NOVA - Ship That Changed the World
Lone Wolf Media is known for its expedition and shipwreck stories from the Titanic to USS Indianapolis, but a 525-year-old wreck that pre-dates Columbus’ voyages was a revelation.
Five centuries ago, the Age of Exploration and Europe’s imperial colonization of far-off lands was launched by a revolution in ship design that made long-distance ocean voyages practical. But exactly how this momentous innovation happened eludes historians. Now, the excavation of a rare intact wreck discovered off the coast of Sweden offers vital new clues to a maritime mystery.
Premiering June 2 at 9pm on PBS.
From the Producer/Writer Owen Palmquist:
This project was a perfect example of what I love about science filmmaking -- a chance to document truly fascinating science in the midst of a beautiful setting. The rich green waters of Southern Sweden may reduce visibility, but they also gave the underwater scenes a gorgeous dream-like quality. The surrounding countryside was also a pleasure to work in. The lush landscape is nothing like many Americans, myself included, imagine Sweden to be. Instead of snow and ice, it was endless shapes of green and welcoming towns. And once you were outside those towns, it quickly became easy to visualize what the area looked like back in the days of King Hans. Indeed, the island where the Gribshunden wreck is located is completely uninhabited except for a small band of sheep who couldn't decide whether they were curious or scared of the small film crew tromping through their grazing fields.
That combination of beauty and isolation (with civilization not far away) is a filmmaker's dream. And then, to top it all off, there was the archaeology itself. Rarely do we get a chance to film a "big" discovery as it emerges from the dirt as did in this case. But seeing the pieces of Gribshunden emerge from the silt, and then stitched together in the archaeological models and finally in our CGI recreation, made it all worth the effort. I hope you enjoy the film as much as we did while making it.
