A study published on Tuesday details the surprising discovery of a medieval shipwreck off the coast of England, which offers insight into what life was like for our ancestors.

Very few ships built between the 10th and 15th centuries have been found in British waters, so the discovery of a sunken ship and its cargo dating to around 1250, as detailed in the study, is quite a surprising find. Published According to Cambridge University Press, the ship was carrying Purbeck stone, a type of marble often used in the construction of religious buildings such as Salisbury Cathedral.

“At the time, the loss of the ship would have been devastating, but today the wreck of the Mortar provides a single-context archaeological remains containing a cross-section of daily life, trade and technology – a unique opportunity to investigate a key period in European history,” the authors wrote in their paper, noting that this period is often overlooked by scholars.

Shipwreck highlights lucrative trade in precious stones in medieval England – translation: translation: https://t.co/gfjIglG8yw

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Apart from the political actions of Edward I and King John, the period was relatively peaceful by most standards and British industry flourished. Salisbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey were built and expanded during this period, according to the authors. (Related article: Father-daughter duo makes astonishing historical discovery during fishing trip)

At the time, ships and boats were the primary means of transporting goods around the British Isles, so it's suggested the ship was carrying Purbeck stone before being wrecked in Poole Harbour, at the western end of Poole Harbour. “The ship may have been heading to a larger construction project in London or to a specialist workshop where the stone may have been polished. This indicates the existence of an extensive, multi-tiered trade network in Britain that facilitated the distribution of Purbeck stone,” the authors say. said Heritage Daily.

“Shipwrecks are important archaeological resources and are often referred to as time capsules because they form single-context archaeological sites,” the authors write in the paper. In addition to the marble, other finds were also discovered, including cooking utensils likely used by the crew, the authors note.

LONDON, UK – JUNE 9: Panoramic view of Westminster Abbey in London, UK on June 9, 2024. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

This wreck helps us understand, in part, why Great Britain has quietly succeeded in becoming a financial and political superpower over the past millennium. In times of relative peace, civilizations thrive. It is only when we encounter chaos, crises and foolish ideas about social control that we falter. So, with this discovery, we might as well start praying for the kind of peace that will allow us to create some of the greatest monuments in history. Just a thought.