The Copperdivers are five enthusiastic divers that have come across an interesting old found,

mystified in a legendary tale. We started this project during the winter of 1995.

By now we have at several occasions, fighting the cold, documented the sight

where a 300-years old "coppergalt" is supposed to be buried in the bottom sediments of lake Stora Aspan.

The lake is situated between Falun and Borlänge in Dalecarlia, Sweden.

A "galt" is one big piece of melted copperore. It usually weighed between 300 to 600 kilos.

The most famous coppermine at this time was the coppermine in Falun.

That mine alone was responsible for 2/3 of the worlds copperproduction.

In the area surrounding Falun there were a large number of small coppersmelting-houses.

These foundries were run by the people in the villages as a complement to farming.

The copperore also contained of iron, silver and gold and was of significate importance to there economy.

In the end of the 17th century the men in the village of Skog, at lake Stora Aspan,

were mocked because their "galts" were always so small.

To keep their honour and to prove to everyone that they could make a good-sized "galt"

they decided to melt two "galts" into one.

Then they had to transport their heavy "galt" across the frozen lake to the weighstation in Falun.

As it happened, the ice broke and the sledge with the "galt" was lost in the depth.

The value of the "galt" represented nearly one years income for the village

and the men decided that the "galt" had to be rescued.

A wooden construction was made of logs and sunk down at the site.

This log-tower reached from the bottom to the surface.

The intention was to enclose the "galt", pump out the water, go down into the tower and save the "galt".

Unluckily the log-construction hit something (a rock or the "galt") and it never sealed at the bottom.

This made it impossible to pump out the water and the attempt had to be abandoned.

The "galt" was forgotten for a long time before another salvage attempt was made.

In the early1950s plans were initiated but never realized.

Now we have taken the challenge to find out if the nearly 300-year-old tale is true.

For our attemps we use both modern technology and home made equipment. It is difficult to access the site.

The only time we dive and excavate is during winter when the ice is thick and we can bring the equipment.

After getting necessary official approvals we have, together with STORA Museum,

started to remove the mud from within the wooden construction.

We have also taken wood-core samples to be able to date the construction,

a most difficult task to perform under water.

We are very curious to find out what is waiting for us down there in the cold dark water...

 

Support has been given to us by:

 

tony.mattson@falun.mail.telia.com

© 1997 Copyright Tony Mattson