Ancient boats in North-West Europe : the archaeology of water transport to AD 1500

Sean McGrail's study received exceptional critical acclaim when it was first published in hardback only 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? Cover 1 Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Dedication 31 Table of Contents 7 List of figures 11 List of tables 15 Glossary 17 Symbols used in the text 21 Acknowledgements 23 Preface to the paperback edition 25 1. Introduction 33 2. Types of water transport 36 Classification 36 Structural classes 39 3. Stability and seaworthiness 44 Flotation and static stability 44 Seaworthiness 48 Appendix 3.1 – Calculations for the Poole logboat 52 4. Trees and wood 55 Use by man 55 Structures and growth 56 Selection and collection 57 Conversion for use 59 Degeneration and decay 67 Examination of excavated wood 69 5. Log rafts 76 Performance 83 Advantages and disadvantages 85 Log rafts in early N. W. Europe 85 6. Logboats 88 Hollowed logs 88 Archaeological documentation 89 Comparative evidence 90 Building a basic logboat 91 Alterations and additions to the basic logboat 98 Other features 107 Early use in N. W. Europe 117 7. Bark boats 120 Distribution and function 120 Variety and size 120 Construction 121 Performance 125 Advantages and disadvantages 125 Early use in N. W. Europe 128 8. Wooden plank boats 130 How to build to the required shape? 130 How to incorporate longitudinal strength? 143 How to close the ends? 151 How to fashion planking and make watertight? 158 How to obtain transverse strength? 173 Which tools were used? 181 Manpower and time? 190 9. Bundle rafts and boats 195 Bundle rafts 195 Bundle boats 195 Function 196 Variety and size of rafts 197 Variety and size of boats 197 Construction 197 Performance 202 Advantages and disadvantages 203 Early use in N. W. Europe 203 10. Hide boats and float rafts 205 Hide boats 205 Rafts of hide floats and related types 219 11. Assessment of performance 224 Methods of assessment 224 Guidance from naval architecture 225 Speed potential 227 Logboat performance 234 12. Propulsion, steering and anchoring 236 Propulsion 236 Steering 271 Anchors and other mooring devices 283 13. Seamanship 290 Environmental changes 290 Winds and their use 292 Average speeds on passage under sail 294 Currents, tides and tidal streams 296 Landing places 299 14. Pilotage and navigation 307 Non-instrumental navigation 308 Navigational capabilities up to c. eleventh century AD 314 Quantitive navigation 316 References 318 Index of sites: a guide to further reading 333 Index 336 List of figures ix List of tables xiii Glossary xv Symbols used in the text xix Acknowledgements xxi Preface to the paperback edition xxiii 1. Introduction 1 2. Types of water transport 4 Classification 4 Structural classes 7 3. Stability and seaworthiness 12 Flotation and static stability 12 Seaworthiness 16 Appendix 3.1 - Calculations for the Poole logboat 20 4. Trees and wood 23 Use by man 23 Structures and growth 24 Selection and collection 25 Conversion for use 27 Degeneration and decay 35 Examination if excavated wood 37 5. Log rafts 44 Performance 51 Advantages and disadvantages 53 Log rafts in early N.W. Europe 53 6. Logboats 56 Hollowed logs 56 Archaeological documentation 57 Comparative evidence 58 Building a basic logboat 59 Alterations and additions to the basic logboat 66 Other features 75 Early use in N.W. Europe 85 7. Bark boats 88 Distribution and function 88 Variety and size 88 Construction 89 Performance 93 Advantages and disadvantages 93 Early use in N.W. Europe 96 8. Wooden plank boats 98 How to build to the required shape? 98 How to incorporate longitudinal strength? 111 How to close the ends? 119 How to fashion planking and make watertight? 126 How to obtain transverse strength? 141 Which tools were used? 149 Manpower and time? 158 9. Bundle rafts and boats 163 Bundle rafts 163 Bundle boats 163 Function 164 Variety and size of rafts 165 Variety and size of boats 165 Construction 165 Performance 170 Advantages and disadvantages 171 Early use in N.W. Europe 171 10. Hide boats and float rafts 173 Hide boats 173 Rafts of hide floats and related types 187 11. Assessment of performance 192 Methods of assessment 192 Guidance from naval architecture 193 Speed potential 195 Logboat performance 202 12. Propulsion, steering and anchoring 204 Propulsion 204 Steering 239 Anchors and other mooring devices 251 13. Seamanship 258 Environmental changes 258 Winds and their use 260 Average speeds on passage under sail 262 Currents, tides and tidal streams 264 Landing places 267 14. Pilotage and navigation 275 Non-instrumental navigation 276 Navigational capabilities up to c. eleventh century AD 282 Quantitive navigation 284 References 286 Index of sites: a guide to further reading 301 Index 304 This standard work on marine archaeology, first published in 1987 and recently unavailable, is now revised and published in paperback for the first time. Sean McGrail provides an authoritative and comprehensive survey of water transport across Northern Europe from the Late Paleolithic to the later Middle Ages, using evidence of excavations, iconographic and ethnographic evidence when available. The result is an excellent study explaining ancient seamanship and boat building to those interested in history or archaeology. Sean Mcgrail. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [286]-297.