alt Hacker News> On its stern, researchers were shocked to find extensive remains of a castle, a kind of covered deck where the crew would have sought shelter. Records show that castles were distinctive features of medieval cogs, but no physical evidence of them had previously been identified.
I suppose this explains why the thing that exists on more modern ships is called a “forecastle”.
PS go check the pronunciation for that word as it’s quite surprising.
Replies
nerdponx • 01/23/2026
Other types of ships also had castles, such as the carrack and galleon. They are super tall and ungainly looking compared to modern ships, even those from the 19th and 18th centuries.
lostlogin • 01/16/2026
‘Folksal’?
You aren’t wrong.
The forecastle of a ship is in the forward part of a ship — at the front, not the back. Looking at renderings of cogs, the 'castle' at the stern seems more to anticipate the modern bulk carrier, with an accommodation block with bridge on top at the aft end, looking out over the cargo holds.