Archaeological, Historical, and Ethnographic Approaches to the Study of Sewn Boats: past, present, and future

Abstract

Sewn‐plank vessels have been a pervasive form of ship construction since antiquity. This paper provides an introductory overview of the current state of the field of sewn‐plank studies, with a particular focus on the Indian Ocean. It describes the basic function of sewn‐plank techniques, and then discusses textual references and historical approaches to the topic. The relevant archaeological evidence is reviewed, and prior ethnographic work relating to the topic is outlined. It summarizes numerous experimental sewn‐plank reconstructions that have been undertaken and concludes with a discussion of the current directions of the field and suggestions for the future.

Abstracto

Aproximación arqueológica, histórica y etnográfica al estudio de las embarcaciones cosidas: pasado, presente y futuro

Las embarcaciones de tablazón cosida han sido una forma ubicua de construcción naval desde la Antigüedad. Este artículo ofrece un resumen introductorio al estado del arte de los estudios sobre embarcaciones cosidas, con un énfasis particular en el Océano Índico. Se describe la función básica de las técnicas de costura de la tablazón y luego se discuten las referencias textuales y aproximaciones históricas al tema. Se reseña la evidencia arqueológica relevante y el trabajo etnográfico previo relacionado con el tema. Se presenta una síntesis sobre numerosas reconstrucciones experimentales de embarcaciones cosidas y se concluye con una discusión sobre los principales focos de estudio actuales y con sugerencias para el futuro.

抽象

缝制船研究中的考古、历史及民族志方法:过去、现在及未来

自古希腊古罗马时代以来, 缝制船一直是船舶建造-一种普遍存在的样式。本文首先回顾了缝制船研究领域的现状, 并特别关注印度洋地区。其次叙述缝制船板技术的基本功能, 然后对该-题的文献资料和历史学方法进行探论。本文还检讨了相关的考古证据并概述-之前与本主题相关的民族志工作。文章总结了已完成的众多复原缝制船实验, 并在最后讨论了这-领域现有研究方向及对未来工作的建议

縫制船研究中的考古、歷史及民族志方法:過去、現在及未來

自古希臘古羅馬時代-來, 縫制船一直是船舶建造-一種普遍存在的樣式。本文首先回顧了縫制船研究領域的現狀, 並特別關注印度洋地區。其次敘述縫制船板技術的基本功能, 然後對該問題的文獻資料和歷史學方法進行探論。本文還檢討了相關的考古證據並概述-之前與本主題相關的民族志工作。文章總結了已完成的衆多複原縫制船實驗, 並在最後討論了這-領域現有研究方向及對未來工作的建議。

ملخص

Key words:

• sewn‐plank boats
• Indian Ocean
• ship construction
• archaeology
• history
• ethnography

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the following organizations responsible for funding the Fibre and Wood Workshop: the German University of Technology (Oman), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Oman), the Research Council (Oman), the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton (UK), the British Museum (UK), and Oman Maritime, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Oman). We are also grateful to H.E. Shaikh Abdullah al‐Salimi, H.E. Sayyid Badr Al Bu Saidi, and Dr Abdulrahman al‐Salimi for their support of the event. Finally, we would like to extend a warm thanks to the workshop attendees for participating, and to the rope workers at Oman Maritime for their assistance with the practical session.

Additional information

Funding

German University of Technology (Oman)

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Oman)

Research Council (Oman)

Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton (UK)

British Museum (UK)

Oman Maritime, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Oman)