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?
Author(s): Seán McGrail
Series: Longman Archaeology Series
Edition: Revised
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2014
Language: English
Pages: XXX+324
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
