Following previous investigations on the Gribshundenshipwreck site, we have developed a series of historical and archaeological research questions which can only be approached through excavation of the site and recovery of artifacts. The archaeological potential of this shipwreck is tremendous. Avenues of inquiry involve understanding the vessel as a“floating castle”, with various functions including as a machine of war and an instrument of political and economic power; the physical organization of social hierarchy within the ship possibly reflecting or diverging from similar social constructs exhibited in castles on land; discerning cultural layers within the wreck context to explore questions of everyday life on board; further material associated with the Nordic Union meeting in Kalmar; and the events surrounding the foundering of the vessel. We focused on specific research queries during this excavation campaign.