Neolithic boats

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FourWinds F
FourWinds Nov 19, 2005 19:01:45
Replying to fitzcoraldo

>> I guess the earliest boats to be found in Britian are the Ferriby boat and the Caldicot boat,

TC Lethbridge suggests the Irish curragh, the umiak and the coracle are descendents of the boats used in the Neolithic. Once again I find opportunity to recommend <i>Boats and Boatmen</i> and <i>Coastwise Craft</i> by Lethbridge. Unlike many archaeos who have postulated about such stuff he was himself a well travlelled sailor and boats seemed to have been a very early interest of his.

F fitzcoraldo
fitzcoraldo Nov 20, 2005 14:55:17
Replying to FourWinds

I wonder if TC would have changed his mind if he'd seen the Ferriby, Dover and Caldicot boats.
It's interesting to ponder on whether the Mesolithic and Neolithic boats used skins as a hull and the introduction of metal tools and the consequential improvement in woodworking techniques brought about a revolution in wooden-hulled boat design.
Perhaps the need to move livestock over open waters was the catalyst to improve boat design. I wouldn't like to transport half a dozen seasick cows across waters such as the Penland Firth in a skin-hulled boat. I've known skippers who'd rather detour around the top of the Orkneys rather than sail through the Firth.