Overview

This book argues that the use of sail as a complement to paddling would have formed an integral part of the development of centres of power in the early Scandinavian Bronze Age, permitting more frequent communication, and thus helping to expand, maintain and control power. This argument stands in sharp contrast to the current belief that the introduction of the sail in the North occurred between the 7th or 8th and the 10th centuries AD. This reassessment of the potential timing and development in the use of the sail derives mainly from an examination of the Bronze Age rock art (c. 1800-500 BC) in southern Scandinavia containing imagery of boats with attributes that can be interpreted as masts and sails, in combination with experimental sail trials in Bronze Age type boats, and using early sailing in ancient Egypt and Oceania as a backdrop.

Full Product Details

Author:   Boel Bengtsson
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   0.686kg
ISBN:  

9781407315690

ISBN 10:   1407315692
Pages:   172
Publication Date:   31 August 2017
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

List of Tables List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations Abstract 1. Orientation The Bronze Age and the Rock Art Historical and Theoretical Background of Rock Art Research Religion, Landscape Archaeology and Social Sciences The Boat Motif Rock Art and the Sea Rock Art Boats and the Emergence of a Maritime Perspective Boats and Social Change Study Structure 2. Sources and Limitations The Southern Scandinavian Rock Art Experimental Sail Trials Terms and Definitions 3. Sail: The Nile and Oceania Early Voyaging on the Nile The Earliest Egyptian Evidence of Water Transportation - from Reed to Plank The Transition from Paddling to Sailing in Egypt The Development of Rig, Sail and Steering Devices during Predynastic, Dynastic and Old Kingdom Seafaring during the Old Kingdom: Byblos and Punt From Sailing on the Nile to Sailing on the Sea Sailing between the Nile and Byblos Early Voyaging in Oceania The Seafaring Vessels Used in Near and Remote Oceania Oceanic Boats Encountered by Early European Explorers The Single Hull Boat with Outrigger The Double-Hull Boat (Canoe) The Boats in General The Development of the Oceanic Hull, Rig and Sail From Near to Remote Oceania Discussion What is Sailing? 4. History on Sailing in Scandinavia The Archaeological Evidence and Written Sources Earlier Nordic Vessels The Gotland Picture Stones, the Karlby Stone and other Iconographic Material The Linguistic Evidence Problems with Current Views Apollinaris and the Anglo-Saxon Migration Period Keel Before Sail? How to Detect Mast and Sail? Discussion 5. Rock Art Boats and the Sail New Interpretation of Evidence Past Research Discussion Documentation of Rock Art Interpretation Introducing the 'New' Evidence The Askum Sailing Boat The Sailing Boat at Himmelstalund The Harvaland Pair of Sailing Boats Other Possible Sails in the Rock Art - the Lattice or Kite Sail Masts with Yards or Stays The Boat Renderings with a Single Mast Summing up the Potential Sailing Vessels in the Rock Art Paddlers and Rowers in the Rock Art Steering Oars Discussion - The Evolution of the Sail in the Rock Art 6. Testing a Hypothesis The Scandinavian Bronze Age Boat Skin or Wood? Capabilities of the Hjortspring Boat Sensitive to Wind Developing a Concept for Sailing a Bronze Age Type Boat Putting the Concept into Practice Boat and Equipment The Boat - a Canoe The 'Steering Oars' Rig The Sail Sailing the Canoe Balance Performance and Manoeuvrability Transferring Results to a 'Bronze Age Type Boat' Main Differences Working with a Model The Sail and Rig The Rudders Dry Sailing Sailing the Tilia Performance and Manoeuvrability Conclusions 7. Sail in Bronze Age Scandinavia Winds, Tides and Currents The Development of Sailing According to Pictorial Evidence Communication between Bohuslän and Jutland during the Early Bronze Age - an Example How and Why Might the Sail Have Evolved in Scandinavia? The Sail and Society 8. Summary and Conclusions Summary of Chapters One to Seven Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Conclusions Glossary Bibliography

Reviews

'A thorough and comprehensive contribution, with a combined historical-ethnographic and experimental approach, which takes the discussion a huge leap forward. ...The experimental trials and how they have been thoroughly documented are of extreme value to this subject area. ... In my opinion this is a refreshing approach to an old, unresolved problem, which brings the discussion to a new level of insight. It is a truly innovative work that is likely to make its impact especially in theories about exchange, travel and technological evolution.' Dr Lene Melheim, University of Oslo

'A thorough and comprehensive contribution, with a combined historical-ethnographic and experimental approach, which takes the discussion a huge leap forward. ...The experimental trials and how they have been thoroughly documented are of extreme value to this subject area. ... In my opinion this is a refreshing approach to an old, unresolved problem, which brings the discussion to a new level of insight. It is a truly innovative work that is likely to make its impact especially in theories about exchange, travel and technological evolution.' Dr Lene Melheim, University of Oslo

Author Information

Dr Boel Bengtsson has a PhD/MSc in Maritime Archaeology from Southampton University. She has won two World Sailing Championships, the Swedish Lady Sailor of the Year award, and participated in the 1996 Olympics for Sweden. Living in the UK, she has worked as a maritime archaeologist there and in Sweden.

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