The boatbuilding tradition of the Aegean during the Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age periods. Typological classification, digital reconstruction and seakeeping assessment

Abstract

A much-debated issue in prehistoric Aegean Archaeology is the interpretation, ‘reconstruction’ and typological classification of the watercraft used during the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age periods. Over the years, many scholars have attempted to conceive various types and define an Aegean boatbuilding tradition by implementing preconceived notions which do not reflect the realities and limitations of the Aegean realm. This research deconstructs previous interpretations of the two and three-dimensional examples by reviewing the past literature in addition to the whole body of evidence of the Late Neolithic -Early Bronze Age. The systematic excavations in the Aegean Basin provided fertile soil by bridging the Late Neolithic period with the following Early Bronze Age. To that end, the hundreds of recently discovered rockart representations from Strofilas on Andros, Vathy on Astypalaia and others significantly enhance the limited database of boat imagery in the Aegean by highlighting structural details untraced to former evidence. Additionally, their dating in the transition from LN to EBA offers an uninterrupted continuum of the evolution of the boat.
These rock-art images are fragile and at constant risk due to environmental and human agencies. Thereby, the implementation of a novel non-destructive recording method was vital. Hence, they were personally documented through the Highlighted-Reflectance Transformation Imaging technique, photogrammetry and silicone rubber, revealing information not observable through other conventional means. To move beyond the Art Historical approach, a more technologically rigorous methodology was incorporated for their analysis. Thus, the multilevel methodological framework is proposed as the
optimal overarching methodology because it exploits the tools of various disciplines and can incorporate aspects of context, operating environment, available material and technological realities in the overall analysis. Additionally, by using the concepts of reverse engineering as well as ship science and statistics, we meticulously examined the image of the boat and observed aspects
of Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age boat typology, architecture and technology. Additionally, it enabled their digital reconstruction and testing by providing us with insights into their technical traits, such as seakeeping, resistance and performance. Thereby, various aspects of boatbuilding technology and artistic expression are discussed in this thesis, offering insights into the period’s
maritime communities, boatbuilding tradition and seafaring. Overall, these aspects favour the view that trading, gateway communities and seagoing boats have a more profound and dynamic history in a long Aegean tradition traced at the end of the Neolithic period.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for Panagiotis Athanasios Tzovaras: orcid.org/0000-0002-0758-5537

ORCID for Stephen Turnock: orcid.org/0000-0001-6288-0400

ORCID for Joanna Sofaer: orcid.org/0000-0001-6328-8636

Catalogue record

Export record