Early Modern Merchant Ships, Nicolaes Witsen and a Dutch‐Flush Index

Abstract

With its basis in the Aanloop Molengat‐wreck research, this paper reflects on two issues: the relationship between written and archaeological sources and the comparability of archaeological field data. The first theme results in a discussion of Nicolaes Witsen's work on shipbuilding and his rendering of primary source material. The second theme results in a discussion of more or less contemporary wrecks for which field data is available. Timber density is compared and a diagnostic index for what have loosely been termed Dutch‐flush merchant ships is proposed. Inconsistencies between field data and historical analysis are presented as a field of further research.

Key words:

• Aanloop Molengat
• 17th century
• shipbuilding
• scantlings
• timber density
• field archaeology

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Wilma Gijsbers and Alice Overmeer, who triggered the present research and Ab Hoving, Menno Leenstra, Fred Hocker and Wendy van Duivenvoorde for valuable comments on the thoughts developed here.

Menno Leenstra also kindly provided the author with an as yet unpublished manuscript under the title ‘Een hele last’, on the use of last in historical sources.

Notes

1. The 1671 text is a bit unclear, but Witsen improves it in the 1690 edition.