Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Skilled craftspeople constructed wooden canoes over 7000 years ago, revealing signs of advanced seafaring technology. Scientists have identified five boats with features like transverse reinforcements and towing accessories, suggesting their use for transporting people, animals, and goods across the Mediterranean Sea.
These canoes, found in a freshwater lake, were an inadvertent secret for decades until recent discoveries. Researchers believe these canoes facilitated trade and transportation among Mediterranean farming communities during the Neolithic period, offering insights into ancient maritime activities.
According to a report by New Scientist, researchers including Niccolò Mazzucco from the University of Pisa, have re-examined these canoes using modern methods, providing fresh insights into their construction and purpose. Their findings, shared in English, shed light on ancient maritime technologies and practices.
Among the intriguing discoveries are wooden T-shaped devices found with the canoes. Analysis suggests these devices were likely used for ropes, indicating the boats were towed. This feature allowed for increased capacity, enabling the transportation of more goods and resources.
Recent carbon dating technology placed the origins of these canoes in the 6th millennia BC, with the oldest dating back to 5620 BC and the most recent to 5045 BC. Additionally, carbon dating of one of the T-shaped accessories revealed its creation as early as 5470 BC, providing further insights into their timeline.
Italian researchers discovered the site, named La Marmotta, in 1989, buried under a lake near Rome. Alongside multiple wooden buildings, they unearthed dugout canoes constructed through burning and carving techniques, providing tangible evidence of ancient maritime activities.
The size of these canoes, some up to 10 meters long, suggests their use on the sea. Recent tests of replicas confirmed their seaworthiness, while foreign grains, livestock remains, and stones found at the village indicate extensive trade across the Mediterranean region.
Analysis of wood samples from the canoes revealed the use of various tree species, including alder, oak, poplar, and beech. Researchers believe ancient craftsmen possessed extensive knowledge of wood properties, selecting them based on durability and suitability for maritime use.