Ancient boats in North-West Europe : the archaeology of water transport to AD 1500 / Seán McGrail.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McGrail, Sean, author.

Series:

Longman archaeology series.

Longman Archaeology Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shipbuilding--Europe--History.

Shipbuilding.

Shipbuilding--Europe, Northern--History.

Ships, Ancient--Europe.

Ships, Ancient.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1054 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Oxfordshire, England ; New York : Routledge, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

At last a paperback edition of this standard work on marine archaeology. Séan McGrail's study received exceptional critical acclaim when it was first published in hardback 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?

Contents:

Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of figures; List of tables; Glossary; Symbols used in the text; Acknowledgements; Preface to the paperback edition; Dedication; 1. Introduction; 2. Types of water transport; Classification; Structural classes; 3. Stability and seaworthiness; Flotation and static stability; Seaworthiness; Appendix 3.1 - Calculations for the Poole logboat; 4. Trees and wood; Use by man; Structures and growth; Selection and collection; Conversion for use; Degeneration and decay; Examination of excavated wood; 5. Log rafts; Performance

Advantages and disadvantages; Log rafts in early N. W. Europe; 6. Logboats; Hollowed logs; Archaeological documentation; Comparative evidence; Building a basic logboat; Alterations and additions to the basic logboat; Other features; Early use in N. W. Europe; 7. Bark boats; Distribution and function; Variety and size; Construction; Performance; Advantages and disadvantages; Early use in N. W. Europe; 8. Wooden plank boats; How to build to the required shape?; How to incorporate longitudinal strength?; How to close the ends?; How to fashion planking and make watertight?

How to obtain transverse strength?; Which tools were used?; Manpower and time?; 9. Bundle rafts and boats; Bundle rafts; Bundle boats; Function; Variety and size of rafts; Variety and size of boats; Construction; Performance; Advantages and disadvantages; Early use in N W. Europe; 10. Hide boats and float rafts; Hide boats; Rafts of hide floats and related types; 11. Assessment of performance; Methods of assessment; Guidance from naval architecture; Speed potential; Logboat performance; 12. Propulsion, steering and anchoring; Propulsion; Steering; Anchors and other mooring devices

13. Seamanship; Environmental changes; Winds and their use; Average speeds on passage under sail; Currents, tides and tidal streams; Landing places; 14. Pilotage and navigation; Non-instrumental navigation; Navigational capabilities up to c. eleventh century AD; Quantitive navigation; References; Index of sites: a guide to further reading; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed June 28, 2014).

ISBN:

1-317-88237-7

1-315-84027-8

1-317-88238-5

9781315840277

OCLC:

881571008