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At last a paperback edition of this standard work on marine archaeology. Séan McGrail's study received exceptional critical acclaim when it was first published in hardback in 1987 and it is now revised and published in paperback for the first time. Professor McGrail provides an authoritative survey of water transport across Northern Europe from the Late Palaeolithic to the later Middle Ages, using evidence of excavations, but also documentary sources, iconographic and ethnographic evidence. In the process he answers such key questions as How were these boats built? What sort of environment were they used in? What speeds could they achieve? and how were they navigated?
A detailed account of man's use of inland and ocean-going craft from the earliest times until the dawn of history, using new archaeological research. All forms of evidence are assessed, from the vessels of ancient Egypt to the Chinese junk.The nautical dimension of prehistory has not so far received the attention it deserves. It is also too often assumed that early man was land bound, yet this is demonstrably not the case. Recent research has shown that man travelled and tracked over greater distances and at a much earlier date than has previously been thought possible. Some of these facts can be explained only by man's mastery of water transport from earliest times. This book, by an acknowl...
McGrail's work includes discussion of the new perspectives in maritime archaeology and provides an authoritative and comprehensive survey of water transport across Northern Europe from the Late Palaeolithic to the later Middle Ages.
"The remains of a Bronze Age boat discovered in Dover in 1992 was one of the most important British archaeological finds of the later twentieth century. The complex, perfectly preserved sewn-plank boat, dating from the second millennium BC, was not only a remarkable find in its own right but it also alluded to a highly sophisticated society that made and used the boat more than three and a half millennia ago." "The authors build a picture of what life was like at the time that the Dover boat set sail, from its marine environment and seaworthiness, boat-building techniques and materials, to the possible social and religious perceptions of boats and sea voyages more generally. They explore the implications of the discovery for Bronze Age society, water transport and cultural contact in a European context, from the shores of Britain, through northern and central Europe, to the eastern Mediterranean and beyond."--BOOK JACKET.
Tells the dramatic story of the discovery in 1992 of the perfectly preserved remains of a large prehistoric, sewn plank boat in Dover, a unique find of a boat capable of cross-channel sailing.It includes carefully researched reconstruction drawings.
Researching back into prehistory and into the earliest evidence provided by archaeology, this volume explores the varied lines of development from the most primitive watercraft to the first real seagoing ships, from Northern Europe, through the Mediterranean to the Near and Far Easts. It traces the most primitive forms of boats - rafts, skin boats and dugouts, for example - which developed ultimately into ships for trade, commerce and war. Apart from chapters on the craft themselves there are sections on related topics, including early pilotage and seamanship, and an evaluation of what modern reconstructions can tell us about the performance of ancient ship types. "The Earliest Ships" not only summarises existing information but has been produced by many of those whose pioneering work was responsible for the revolution in understanding in the first place.
Ever since the earliest travelers took to the water on reed rafts or inflated goatskins, ships and boats have played a paramount role in the history of the Western world. The invention of the sail about 3500 BC resulted in ever faster and more efficient water transport, and the great civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome depended on ships and seafarers for their prosperity. This entertaining book by the world's foremost authority on ancient seamanship traces the development of the boat from the most primitive craft to the powerful warships of the Greeks, the huge Roman merchant vessels, and the slender galleys of the Vikings. Professor Casson shows how the discoveries of marine archaeologists and recent experiments with full-size replicas of ancient boats have increased our knowledge of the way in which ships were built and used. Drawing upon written accounts and contemporary artistic depictions of naval battles, trading expeditions, and other voyages, he brings the world of seafaring in ancient times vividly to life.
After an introduction to the topic of maritime archaeology and account of the way maritime archaeologists work, the author describes the building and use of rafts, boats and ships in north-west Europe up to about 1500. The evidence for early sea voyages and for navigation without instruments is also surveyed.