Sailing through History Reading the Past – Imagining the Future Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Boat & Ship Archaeology ISBSA 16, 2021
A logboat from Southern Germany is dated to 900 BC. Apart from several unusual features there are... more A logboat from Southern Germany is dated to 900 BC. Apart from several unusual features there are indications for push rowing as a mean of propulsion.
During and after the fortress “Wilhelmstein” was built in 1765 – 1767 on an artificial island in ... more During and after the fortress “Wilhelmstein” was built in 1765 – 1767 on an artificial island in the Steinhuder Meer, several watercrafts other technical inventions were constructed. Some were used for maintenance, other for military services. Among the latter were floating batteries or stables for horses to be used for land attacks. In many cases it must be open whether these plans were ever realised.
Many of the nineteen papers presented in this volume originated at the 6th Annual Meeting of the ... more Many of the nineteen papers presented in this volume originated at the 6th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeology held in Lisbon in 2000. Their aim is to draw on archaeological and historical evidence to explore the changes that global trade and European expansion wrought on the maritime world between antiquity and the present day. The scope of the volume is vast with case studies covering the classical world, medieval Europe and the Americas. Subjects include: the role of Genoa in ancient Mediterranean trade; Adriatic amphorae recovered from Spain; trading routes in Roman Gaul; coarse pottery throughout the Mediterranean; inland navigation in Italy; the riverborne transport of large loads; the trade of terra sigillata in Portugal; a Roman fluvial harbour in Spain; international trade in middle Saxon England; post-medieval celestial navigation; daily life onboard a 17th-century Iberian ship; Atlantic trade in the 16th century; the waterfront archaeology of Newfoundland. Illustrated throughout.
Rezension zu: Siedlungs- und Küstenforschung im südlichen Nordseegebiet 35. Herausgegeben vom Nie... more Rezension zu: Siedlungs- und Küstenforschung im südlichen Nordseegebiet 35. Herausgegeben vom Niedersächsischem Institut für historische Küstenforschung. Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden/ Westf. 2012. 351 Seiten, 188 Schwarz/weiß- und Farbabbildungen, 43 Tafeln, 82 Tabellen und 4 Beilagen. Hardcover 59,80 €. ISBN 978-3-86757-853-0.
Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 2009
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was designed to come ... more The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was designed to come into force after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession (Article 27). This occurred in January 2009 after the ...
refugees flooding into the town. It was also the year of a raging choleraepidemic. New World wasi... more refugees flooding into the town. It was also the year of a raging choleraepidemic. New World wasin port for threeweeks andHatchwentashore. GivenHatch's undoubted ability to describe, it wouldhavebeen fascinating to havehad someglimpses of dockland life in a townin crisis. Hatchdid become ill whileashore, but not, apparently, fromcholera. The returntrip to NewYorkinvolved carrying emigrants, Irishmen,women and children, and Hatchprovides a movingaccount of a burial,of a childat sea.On arrival inNewYork,the crewwerepaidoff and HatchneversawJackfor the nextthirtyyears. Thesecondpartof thebookisconcerned withthereappearance in Hatch's lifeof Jack Corbett. Now a successful financier, Hatch is in his officewhen told that a "rough looking fel1ow" [155] wanted to seehim. It was Jack. Thereis no doubtingthe warmth of Hatch's feelings towards hisoldshipmate. HatchgaveCorbettajob lookingafterhis yachts and in the courseof thisjob Jackbecame a mentorto Hatch's ten children. Theirpositions were reversed. At sea, Jack lookedafter Hatch,whilenow, in old age Hatch lookedafter Jack. Unfotunately, in this secondpartof the bookthereis littleof interestto the maritime historian. Thebookis a goodreadand is veryinstructive concerning the day-to-daylifeof a merchant seaman in the daysof sail,both at seaand ashore. Hatchneverlost his interest in the seaandseamen andwasinstrumental in settingup various charities to helpmariners, usinghis personal wealthin such ventures. The book is not an analytical, academic work. It is a straightforward, wel1-written account of the lot of ordinaryseamen.
Sailing through History Reading the Past – Imagining the Future Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Boat & Ship Archaeology ISBSA 16, 2021
A logboat from Southern Germany is dated to 900 BC. Apart from several unusual features there are... more A logboat from Southern Germany is dated to 900 BC. Apart from several unusual features there are indications for push rowing as a mean of propulsion.
During and after the fortress “Wilhelmstein” was built in 1765 – 1767 on an artificial island in ... more During and after the fortress “Wilhelmstein” was built in 1765 – 1767 on an artificial island in the Steinhuder Meer, several watercrafts other technical inventions were constructed. Some were used for maintenance, other for military services. Among the latter were floating batteries or stables for horses to be used for land attacks. In many cases it must be open whether these plans were ever realised.
Many of the nineteen papers presented in this volume originated at the 6th Annual Meeting of the ... more Many of the nineteen papers presented in this volume originated at the 6th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeology held in Lisbon in 2000. Their aim is to draw on archaeological and historical evidence to explore the changes that global trade and European expansion wrought on the maritime world between antiquity and the present day. The scope of the volume is vast with case studies covering the classical world, medieval Europe and the Americas. Subjects include: the role of Genoa in ancient Mediterranean trade; Adriatic amphorae recovered from Spain; trading routes in Roman Gaul; coarse pottery throughout the Mediterranean; inland navigation in Italy; the riverborne transport of large loads; the trade of terra sigillata in Portugal; a Roman fluvial harbour in Spain; international trade in middle Saxon England; post-medieval celestial navigation; daily life onboard a 17th-century Iberian ship; Atlantic trade in the 16th century; the waterfront archaeology of Newfoundland. Illustrated throughout.
Rezension zu: Siedlungs- und Küstenforschung im südlichen Nordseegebiet 35. Herausgegeben vom Nie... more Rezension zu: Siedlungs- und Küstenforschung im südlichen Nordseegebiet 35. Herausgegeben vom Niedersächsischem Institut für historische Küstenforschung. Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden/ Westf. 2012. 351 Seiten, 188 Schwarz/weiß- und Farbabbildungen, 43 Tafeln, 82 Tabellen und 4 Beilagen. Hardcover 59,80 €. ISBN 978-3-86757-853-0.
Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 2009
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was designed to come ... more The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage was designed to come into force after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession (Article 27). This occurred in January 2009 after the ...
refugees flooding into the town. It was also the year of a raging choleraepidemic. New World wasi... more refugees flooding into the town. It was also the year of a raging choleraepidemic. New World wasin port for threeweeks andHatchwentashore. GivenHatch's undoubted ability to describe, it wouldhavebeen fascinating to havehad someglimpses of dockland life in a townin crisis. Hatchdid become ill whileashore, but not, apparently, fromcholera. The returntrip to NewYorkinvolved carrying emigrants, Irishmen,women and children, and Hatchprovides a movingaccount of a burial,of a childat sea.On arrival inNewYork,the crewwerepaidoff and HatchneversawJackfor the nextthirtyyears. Thesecondpartof thebookisconcerned withthereappearance in Hatch's lifeof Jack Corbett. Now a successful financier, Hatch is in his officewhen told that a "rough looking fel1ow" [155] wanted to seehim. It was Jack. Thereis no doubtingthe warmth of Hatch's feelings towards hisoldshipmate. HatchgaveCorbettajob lookingafterhis yachts and in the courseof thisjob Jackbecame a mentorto Hatch's ten children. Theirpositions were reversed. At sea, Jack lookedafter Hatch,whilenow, in old age Hatch lookedafter Jack. Unfotunately, in this secondpartof the bookthereis littleof interestto the maritime historian. Thebookis a goodreadand is veryinstructive concerning the day-to-daylifeof a merchant seaman in the daysof sail,both at seaand ashore. Hatchneverlost his interest in the seaandseamen andwasinstrumental in settingup various charities to helpmariners, usinghis personal wealthin such ventures. The book is not an analytical, academic work. It is a straightforward, wel1-written account of the lot of ordinaryseamen.
Die Treibmudde im Steinhuder Meer verlagert sich ständig. Durch einen Abgleich von Kartierungen d... more Die Treibmudde im Steinhuder Meer verlagert sich ständig. Durch einen Abgleich von Kartierungen der Muddestärke zwischen 1848 und heute, kann eine starke Abweichung während der letzten Jahre nachgewiesen werden.
European people hunted whales from late Medieval Times up to the 19th century in open rowing boat... more European people hunted whales from late Medieval Times up to the 19th century in open rowing boats with hand thrown harpoons, lances and ropes of organic material. Perhaps this has a long tradition as artefact made of whalebones or depictions of whales on megalithic monuments are indicating. Because archaeological evidence for this hunting technique is poor, it is necessary to look at ethnographic examples. These show that people, some of them can be regarded as early farmers or even hunters and gatherers, were chasing large maritime mammals, using similar techniques as those known from early modern times. Apart from harpoons and lances with heads out of stone, bone or mussel, ropes out of skin or plant fibre, floats or drags are recorded. Further paddled skin-, bark- or logboats were employed. Handling of the gear required an experienced crew of several members and often several boats were hunting together the same whale. Still more people were needed to cut up the whale after it had been killed and towed to land. The distribution of meat, blubber or teeth/baleen followed a regional, but strict social order.
In most cases only of the bottom of a ship is preserved, but facts derived from studying these re... more In most cases only of the bottom of a ship is preserved, but facts derived from studying these remains are always true. For further historic research other sources, like depictions or written ones have to be used, which can be incomplete, misleading or, sometimes, totally unreliable. But with the help of archaeological artefacts, one can decide which are appropriate. Further ethnographic evidence, knowledge of traditional shipbuilding and seamanship as well as common sense can be utilised. Therefore archaeology is by far the most powerful instrument for historic reconstructions in comparison with others
From rivers and lakes in Bavaria several logboats are known. Further rafts and landing places hav... more From rivers and lakes in Bavaria several logboats are known. Further rafts and landing places have been in the focus of research showing the importance of watertransport. In this paper a logboat dating to 900 BC from the Starnberger See will be presented. It was only partly preserved, but a 3-D survey made it possible to reconstruct the shape of the hull. Its stern is shaped in a complicated unusual form with a square balk protruding aft and several auger holes, which have not been observed at other wrecks. Possibly it was propelled by rowing facing forward, a means of propulsion which has not been recorded for this period yet. The quality of the oak trunk and its length of ca. 14 m indicates a use not as a fishing or transport boat, but as a ceremonial or warrior vessel. The other wreck is the remains of a plank boat discovered in the River Danube from the middle of the 18th century AD. The hull section with double chines is not known in that region at that time, but is common in the Rhine area. The analysis of the oak timbers revealed that the trees grew in that area. Therefore the boat must have been transported across the European watershed between North Sea and Black Sea over land. A task which has not been recorded elsewhere.
Thanks to several wrecks in the Mediterranean our knowledge about the construction of the hull ca... more Thanks to several wrecks in the Mediterranean our knowledge about the construction of the hull can be considered as good. On the other hand we know very little or even almost nothing about other parts of vessels, such as masts, sails, oars or rudders since these items are often missing in wrecks. This concerns not only their shape or how they were produced, but also the way how they mounted on the hull. In a few cases iconographic evidence can be used, but this source has also several drawbacks.
The Steinhuder Meer is a lake of 30 sq. km northwest of Hannover in Northern Germany. Mesolithic ... more The Steinhuder Meer is a lake of 30 sq. km northwest of Hannover in Northern Germany. Mesolithic artefacts indicate that people made use of the resources of the lake since that time. As it was an economically underdeveloped area the fishing rights between the two bordering states were a matter of constant quarrels in die Middle Ages and Early Modern Times. In the end the inhabitants of the village of Steinhude won the conflict. Most of the fish was caught with the help of fish traps, a method which together with the traditional boats, known as Torfkähne, is still used today. To gain the necessary raw material for the nets flax was grown by the fishermen who were farmers as well, because they could not make their living from fishing alone. The surplus of flax was used for cloth making which was the start of a linen industry lasting to this very day. In addition the boats were used for transporting peat across the lake and for cutting young reed as forage or grass from floating meadows. Traditionally the fishing rights were leased to individual fishermen. This changed around 1900 when the whole lake was leased to a single person. He introduced a type of vessel (Angelkahn) which derived from Havel region and new methods like line fishing and the use of a large seine net. At the same time the railway reached the lake and tourists came in. In the beginning, before special boats for visitors were constructed, Torfkähne were also used for carrying day-trippers. They were fond of smoked eel which was not only sold in the village of Steinhude, but later also at the market in Hannover. In fact the consumption of eel was for many people a reason to visit the lake. Because of this economic success only eels were caught and the rest of the catch was dumped back into the lake. This process lasts until today though most of the eels are now imported from other regions. Perhaps this development can to develop patterns for the economic impact of large settlements like the so-called Fürstensitze of the Hallstatt Period, the Oppida of the Latène Period or the Roman military forts. In these places there were not only many people who had to be fed, but there lived also a group of wealthier persons who were able to afford special food, like eels or other delicacies. On the other hand the Steinhuder Meer shows that the introduction of new means of production can sometimes be linked to a single event. Apart from these questions the paper will deal with the various methods how the fish was caught.
The evidence for domesticated animals on islands in the Mediterranean Sea in Early Neolithic time... more The evidence for domesticated animals on islands in the Mediterranean Sea in Early Neolithic times, the settlement of the Orkney Islands or the distribution of similar bronze objects in Britany and Cornwall indicate the possibility to cross open waters regularly. On the other hand our knowledge about the boats used for this purpose is very limited. But there are a few indications for the utilization of logboats perhaps with washstrakes and skin boats. The means of propulsion remains open, as the introduction of sail in the Mediterranean Sea as well in Northern and Western Europe is still unsolved. The passages led either through dangerous waters with strong tidal currents like the Pentland Forth between Scotland and the Orkneys or across open waters up to a hundred nautical miles. Therefore the people of the Neolithic Period or the Bronze Age must have had a considerable nautical knowledge. Looking on navigation aids known from younger periods and other regions like Polynesia several methods of finding the way across open sea can be deduced. Even if some of the results are hypothetically it is possible to show that even in early periods men had the capacity for long distance seafaring including the knowledge how to cope with strong tides.
From the distribution of similar artefacts, the occurrence of natural resources like tin ore or ... more From the distribution of similar artefacts, the occurrence of natural resources like tin ore or the evidence of related DNA and isotopes, it is known that even during Prehistoric and Early Medieval times man was already able to sail long distances across open waters. But how did he know his way without instruments? Archaeological finds of navigational aids are still missing, but by analysing ethnographic and historic sources, even if they were recorded in different areas and periods, certain techniques can be detected which may have already been used in former periods. If one compares Polynesian navigational knowledge with that what is written down in Nordic sagas, one can observe several similarities. For example, apart from the use of sun and stars, there are wave patterns and “Seeorte” as means for steering. Some of them can be observed by eye, others can only be detected by feeling the boat’s movements. All have in common that the navigator has to observe constantly wind, weather, visibility, motion of the boats etc., because it is the combination of all phenomena which enables him to decide about the course to be steered.
Flusstäler, Flussschiffe, Flußhäfen: Befunde aus Antike und Mittelalter, 2019
Rafting in Southern Germany is well researched for younger periods. But there are good reasons to... more Rafting in Southern Germany is well researched for younger periods. But there are good reasons to assume that this industry was already well established in Prehistoric times.
Flusstäler, Flussschiffahrt, Flusshäfen: Befunde aus Antike und Mittelalter, 2019
Rafting in Southern Germany is well researched for younger periods. But there are good reasons to... more Rafting in Southern Germany is well researched for younger periods. But there are good reasons to assume that this industry was already well established in Prehistoric times.
Shortened Paper presented in the session: Land and Sea: New Directions in Maritime Archaeology. E... more Shortened Paper presented in the session: Land and Sea: New Directions in Maritime Archaeology. European Associaion of Archaeologists. First Annual Meeting. Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 20. – 24 September 1995
Abstract published in: J.W.E.Fassbinder/W.E.Irlinger (Hrsg.), Archaeological Prospection. Third I... more Abstract published in: J.W.E.Fassbinder/W.E.Irlinger (Hrsg.), Archaeological Prospection. Third International Conference on Archaeological Prospection. Arbeitshefte des bayerischen Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege 108 (München 1999) 88.
Art. 1 • ( 4) Bodendenkmäler sind bewegliche und unbewegliche Denkmäler, die sich im Boden befind... more Art. 1 • ( 4) Bodendenkmäler sind bewegliche und unbewegliche Denkmäler, die sich im Boden befinden oder befanden und in der Regel aus vor-oder frühgeschichtlicher Zeit stammen. Art. 3 • ( 1 ) Die Schutzbestimmungen dieses Gesetzes gelten für Baudenkmäler, für Bodendenkmäler und für die eingetragenen beweglichen Denkmäler. Art. 12, 4 • 4. Konservierung und Restaurierung von Denkmälern, soweit die Konservierung und die Restaurierung nicht von anderen dafür zuständigen staatlichen Stellen durchgeführt werden
In the final discussion of this session on the last EAA meeting in Lyon the statement was made th... more In the final discussion of this session on the last EAA meeting in Lyon the statement was made that reconstructions of archaeological costumes look rather uniform though out Europe, because of the limit number of available finds. This is certainly true, but it could apply to historic costumes as well, though we know that they were very different and colourful in reality. In this paper I shall try to do this by looking at historic local costumes with an archaeological eye.
The distribution of arefacts of the Bellbeaker Culture includes sites on islands. Therefore the p... more The distribution of arefacts of the Bellbeaker Culture includes sites on islands. Therefore the people must have been able to cross the open sea. As no wrecks of seagoing vessels from this period are known, it can only be assumed that logboats, perhaps with raised sides or skinboats we used.
In Antiquity archaeological artefacts of sails, ropes etc. from wrecks are rare. Therefore other... more In Antiquity archaeological artefacts of sails, ropes etc. from wrecks are rare. Therefore other sources like pictural evidence has to be used to reconstructs the missing parts. But sometimes these sources can be misleading.
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