A wooden figurehead that resembles a sea monster has been discovered in the Baltic sea after lying on the ocean floor for over 500 years.
A team of archaeologists from Blekinge Museum and Södertörn University in Sweden believe that the figurehead was a portion of a Danish warship, the Gribshunden that belonged to Danish King Hans from way back in the 15<sup>th century
According to Discovery News, the ship was stationed in Ronneby, Sweden when it sank after it was ravaged by fire in 1945; but it still appeared to be a very well preserved wreck.
It is believed that the recovered wooden figure had been placed on the bow of the ship; and researchers say there's nothing like it that has been excavated before.
According to Johan, marine archaeology professor at Södertörn University, the artifact appeared to be as some sort of "fantasy animal."
Furthermore, he described that it looked like a dragon that had lion ears and the mouth of a crocodile.
The figurehead also had something in its mouth, like a person — as if it were eating a person, the professor told BBC.
According to Rönnby, the last time the ship was still sailing, Christopher Columbus and Leonardo da Vinci were still alive.
"We knew that it should be a fantastic figure, but it was over our expectations when we saw it now," he told Reuters.
On the other hand, Blekinge Museum head Marcus Sandekjer said that the artifact resembles a "monstrous dog."
"It may depict the very 'Grip Dog' that the name of the ship reflects," he said in the Discovery News report.
Most sea vessels like the Gribshunden have already been degraded by the sea and marine life, but not the Danish warship; and it will bring an opportunity for scientists to know more about the past.
The artifact is now placed in a water bath at the storehouse of the museum and waiting to undergo proper preservation.
