Searching for a ship that sank in the 17th century with manuscripts and other artefacts on board

In the fall of 1682, the cargo ship Höfðaskip was lost in a violent storm off the coast of Langanes, along with all its crew, Icelandic manuscripts, and other valuable artifacts. The ship had departed from Spákonufellshöfði near Skagaströnd and was en route to Copenhagen. Among its crew was Hannes Þorleifsson, a collector of manuscripts, who was transporting Icelandic medieval manuscripts and artifacts to the King of Denmark.

Cargo ships like Höfðaskip typically sailed along the coast and therefore usually sank close to land. Underwater surveys have shown that the wrecks are generally found within six kilometers from the shore. “There is a good chance of locating the Höfðaskip wreck. If we manage to locate it, we aim to conduct further studies on it, as it is known that ships from this era have been well-preserved in the sea,” says Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir, a professor in the Department of Philosophy, History, and Archaeology at the University of Iceland, who is leading a research project on Höfðaskip in collaboration with the University of Iceland's Research Center in the Westfjords.

Similar research has been conducted in Iceland

This project directly aligns with Steinunn’s research interests, which are primarily the medieval period in Iceland, monastic life, and the Christian church. The search for Höfðaskip is not about examining the lost manuscripts and items that were lost with the ship but rather locating the shipwreck itself. If successful, this would open the possibility of further research on the ship and its cargo.

“Similar research has been conducted in Iceland. For example, the Dutch ship Melckmeyt, which sank off Flatey in Breiðafjörður in 1659, has been extensively photographed and explored. Additionally, there are a few smaller underwater surveys underway,” Steinunn notes.

The research ties into a larger archaeological project

When asked about the inspiration for the research, Steinunn explains that it is connected to a larger archaeological study of manuscript production at Þingeyrar Monastery that began in 2018. Steinunn is leading that study, for which she received a grant from The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís).

“We know that Hannes Þorleifsson (b. ca. 1650, d. 1682) lived at Þingeyrar while collecting manuscripts there, and his brother Jón Þorleifsson was an abbot there. The 1682 shipwreck is mentioned in several annals, but little else is known. It is believed, however, that many of the lost manuscripts belonged to the Þingeyrar Monastery library, though Hannes likely collected manuscripts from other parts of the country too,” Steinunn explains.

Royal Antiquarian and Predecessor to Árni Magnússon

Þorleifsson was the predecessor of the manuscript collector Árni Magnússon and had been appointed Royal Antiquarian, or Antiquarius regius, by King Christian V of Denmark in 1681. Þorleifsson’s task was primarily to collect ancient manuscripts in Iceland and bring them to Copenhagen, as the Danish King had a keen interest in collecting Icelandic medieval manuscripts at the time. However, he never managed to transport these manuscripts and valuables to Copenhagen. It is noted that no ship with such a rich cargo had ever been lost off Iceland’s coast before. It is believed that a copy of Sturlunga saga was among the lost manuscripts, which belonged to Þorleifsson’s mother, who lived at Þingeyrar.

Written sources and underwater surveys used for the search

Before fieldwork begins, written records about the shipwreck will be reviewed, and local residents will be consulted for information on possible locations of the wreck. Conversations will mainly be with fishermen who have noticed driftwood along the shoreline or encountered obstacles where nets have snagged underwater. This will help narrow down the search to likely areas near Langanes. An underwater survey will also be conducted using side-scan sonar and multibeam echo sounder to map the seabed.

As previously mentioned, underwater studies indicate that cargo ships from Höfðaskip’s time rarely sank far from shore, with an average sinking distance of within 6 kilometers off the coast. Therefore, there is a realistic possibility of finding the wreck using sonar near the shore. “The annals don’t agree on the exact location where the ship sank, but based on local conditions and descriptions, it seems likely that it went down on the western side of Langanes, most likely in Þistilfjörður,” Steinunn explains.

The research is led by Steinunn but is conducted in collaboration with underwater archaeologist Ragnar Edvardsson from the University of Iceland’s Research Center in the Westfjords. Additionally, Sigþór Bjarmi Geirsson, a BA student in archaeology at the University of Iceland, has been hired for the project, and he will base his thesis on its findings.

Finding the ship is of both scientific and societal value

The project’s findings are not yet complete, but work is ongoing. Sources clearly show that Höfðaskip sank with significant valuables onboard. Many have attempted to identify which manuscripts were lost, but it is certain that a copy of Sturlunga saga was lost with the ship.

When asked about the significance of the research, Steinunn states that its scientific value is substantial. Underwater search technology has advanced greatly in recent years. “If the ship and its cargo are found, we will be able to examine what was on board when it sank. The importance of this is undeniable for society, as well as science, as it allows us to better understand what kind of artifacts were present in Iceland in the Middle Ages and which manuscripts were lost with the ship.”

An historic event if the ship is found

It remains uncertain whether Höfðaskip’s wreck will be found, but if researchers are successful, it would be considered an historic event. One of the main challenges of the project is the large number of shipwrecks off Langanes, but the search will likely reveal if Höfðaskip is among them. “It’s remarkable that a search for this specific ship, which sank in the fall of 1682, hasn’t been undertaken before, especially given recent advancements in sonar technology for underwater research. If Höfðaskip is found, it would be a milestone in both research on that particular ship and in archaeological research on shipwrecks along Iceland’s coast in general,” Steinunn concludes.