Experimental ArchaeologyReconstructing the Past

Presented by: Janelle Harrison 2006

Why do Maritime Archaeologists use Experimental Archaeology? It is a tool to

understanding how past maritime cultures perceived, interpreted, and advanced in technology

Reenactment is a key, or window into the minds of the builders and the cultures

Fig I

Dimensions to Maritime Archaeology

Experimental Archaeology

Interpretation

Defining Experimental Archaeology

Ole Crumlin-Pedersen defined it in this statement: “Experimental archaeology has been described by John Coles as ‘…the collection of facts, theories, and fictions in the reconstruction and function of ancient remains…’ To me, experimental archaeology is the study of the past by methods reproducing and testing conditions for and elements of man’s life in the past.”

Two Methods of Experimental Archaeology

1st Method: Experimentation• Usually used in combination with deductive

reasoning

• Establishing a hypothesis through tested and designed experiments

2nd Method: Observation• Is the recording of the results form the testing of the

reconstructed vessel and trails

• Observation may lead to changes in hypothesis’ or in the design & procedure of constructing a vessel

Replica or Not?

According to McGrail, few archaeological finds allow for exact replication of a vessel.

Usually the portions of the puzzle that are missing deal with steering & propulsion

In these cases archaeologists can use, if available, the other dimensions of archaeological evidence already mentioned: ie. Iconographic, Historical or Ethnographic

Reasons for Proper Experimental Workshops for Boat Archaeology Workshops give students a chance to

experience the conditions the seamen endured in the vessel once it has been built and tests

Allows students to understand the boat building process during reconstruction

By reconstructing as the builders did in the past, the skills are regenerated and a better understanding of the builders thought process is gained

Egyptian Reconstructions

Fig II

Fig III

The Khufu Ship: (Cheops)

Dated c.2600 BC Dismantled & buried

beside Khufu’s pyramid, found in 1954

Found by Kamal el Mallakh

Oars, planks, columns, beams, matting & rope

Fig IV

The Khufu Ship The ship measures over

130.8ft long & 17.7 ft beam

It was originally built shell first, hull was made of cedar, the fastenings of sidder

It is one of the oldest reconstructed ships in the world

The Khufu ship is on display in Cairo right over the spot where she was found Fig V

Knowledge Gained:Construction

Planks to build the ship ranged form 21 to 69 feet long

Planks ranged from 4.7 to 5.9 inches thick

Massive amount of capital was invested in ships that were built of this design

Strakes were fastened together in long S-shaped scarfs

Fig VI

Fig VII

Propulsion & Steering on the Khufu Ship

No evidence of a mast, rigging, or sail was found (at a time when Egyptians were using sail)

The oars that were placed in the burial chamber allow archaeologists to infer that the ship was propelled by 5 oars men on each side

Only the Original Reconstructed

A replica has not been built to test experimentally

Still archaeologists discovered a great deal from the reconstruction of the original ship

Fig VIII

The Kyrenia Ship

It differs form the Khufu ship in that this was a merchant ship that sailed the seas around 4th century BC

This was around the time of Alexander the Great

Fig IX

Original Cargo Artifacts from The Kyrenia

Fig XI-XIII

Housed at the Kyrenia Crusader Castle

The castle where these artifacts and the original ship are housed and on display is located on the Northern part of Cyprus

The Island of Cyprus is divided between Turkey and Greece and the museum is located on the Turkish side

About Kyrenia I

More than 75% of her was recovered

Each piece was recorded, recovered, & conserved in PEG and reconstructed for the Museum

Steffy of the INA supervised the process

Fig XIV

What Knowledge was gained from Reconstruction of the

Original Kyrenia?

Fig XV, XVI

Kyrenia II: A Working Reconstruction

Fig XVII

Kyrenia II

Fig XVIII

Experimental Testing Knowledge

She could reach speeds of 4 to 5 knots She used a square sail and the test

documented how well she handled rough seas and long journeys across the Mediterranean

Olympias:A Trireme Greek War Ship

Fig XIX

Greek Terminology: Trieres

Fig XX

Fig XXI

Reconstructing a “Ghost Ship”

Fig XXII

*LOL*

Fig XXIII

4th Century BC: Scandinavia’s Hjortspring Canoe

Fig XXIV

Design & Construction

The hull was built from 7 main parts

2 hollowed bottom planks

2 hollowed block stems

4 side strakes

Fig XXV

Fig XXVI

The Tilia Alsie

Fig XXVII

Testing for:

Acceleration Speed Stopping distance Turing Different stability &

hydrodynamics Tested again with 22

persons: speeds of 8.2 knots achieved

Fig XXVIII

Nydam Boat: 4th Century AD

Museum Schloss GottorpFig XXIX Fig XXX

Fig XXXI

Fig XXXII

Details of the Boat

The oldest Nordic ship found The oldest clinker-built boat 75.4ft long Beam of 13.1ft Carried 15 pairs of oars Documentary evidence written by Tacitus

stated that Nordic ships didn’t use sails

The Reconstruction?

The only reconstruction is the original that is housed in the Archäologisches Landesmuseum in Schleswig

Fig XXXIII

Controversy in Testing Scaled Down Models

Fig XXXIV

Sæ Wylfing: A Half Size Sutton Hoo

“For economy, our 13m Sae Wylfing was built of pine except for the two upper strakes which were of oak. The laminated frames were widely spaced to ensure that the hull strength was to scale with the original. The sailing rig is hypothetical and based on Roman practice. The size of the sail was guided by our experience with the Graveney model, Ottor; it was made of cotton, whereas Anglo-Saxons would probably have used flax.”

Fig XXXV

The Gokstad Ship

Circa 890AD

Fig XXXVI

Fig XXXVII

Skuldelev 1: A Trading Vessel

The Skuldelev Ships all date from circa 1000AD

Excavated in Roskilde fjord, Denmark They were deliberately sunk to create a

burrier in the channel

Fig XXXVIII Fig XXXIX

Fig XL

The Original Material: pine, oak and

linden Length: 52.5ft Beam: 15.7ft Cargo capacity: 20-24

tonnes No. of oars: 2-4 Crew: 6-8 men Average speed: approx. 5

knots Top speed: approx. 13 knots Dating: ca 1030 Place of building: Western

Norway Preserved: approx. 60%

vikingeskibsmuseetFig XLI

Conclusions

Experimental Archaeology is a tool that uses various dimensions of Maritime Archaeology to draw further clues for interpretation in the past and the cultures that developed from and around the maritime culture

Its helps Maritime Archaeologists understand, early forms of trade, migration, ritual, and war

Experimental Archaeology brings the past to life

Bibliography An introduction to the history and culture of Pharaonic Egypt (fig VII). Internet 18.11.06

http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/shipconstruction.htm

British Archaeology . Internet 7.11.06 http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba80/feat2.shtml

Kyrenia: North Cyprus Homepage . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/city/kyrenia/castle/shipwreck/index.html

Pyramids: Houses of Eternity (figs II, III) Internet 18.11.06. http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/index.html

The Guild of the hjorspring Boat . Internet 18.11.06 http://home6.inet.tele.dk/hjortspr/milestones.htm#350%20years%20Jubilee%20of%20Agustenborg

The Trireme Trust . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/trireme/

The Sea Stallion . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.havhingsten.dk/index.php?id=446&L=1

The Viking Ship Museum .Internet 18.11.06 http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/default.asp?contentsection=3964B7C731974A1DA15F5741EA743FE9&zcs=

The Classics Pages: The Trireme . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/trireme.htm

Trireme: How was a Trireme Built . Internet 18.11.06 http://home-3.tiscali.nl/~meester7/engtrireme.html

The National Museum of Denmark . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.nationalmuseet.dk/sw20374.asp

The Nydam Boat . Internet 18.11.06 http://web.telia.com/~u31118336/stone_struck/nydam2.htm

Nordic Underwater Archaeology . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.abc.se/~m10354/uwa/

Replicas of Nordic Ships . Internet 18.11.06 http://www.abc.se/~m10354/bld/replicas.htm

The Ghost Ship of the Wuffings . Internet 16.11.06 http://www.wuffings.co.uk/MySHPages/SHTreasure/SHGhostShip.htm

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Khufu Ship (fig IV) Internet 18.11.06

. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khufu_ship

Bibliography Cont.Brøgger, A.W. and Haakon Shetelig 1951. The Viking Ships: Their Ancestry and Evolution.

Oslo, Norway: Dreyers Forlag

Delgado, J. P. (ed) 1997. Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. London: The British Museum Press.

Delgado, J. P. (2001). Lost WarShips. New York: Checkmark Books

McGrrail, S. 2001. Boats of the World: From the Stone Age to Medieval Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Shaw, T. (1993). The Trireme Project. Oxford: Oxbow Books.

Steffy, J.R. (1994) Wooden Ship Building And The Interpretation Of Shipwrecks. Texas: Texas A&M University