KÜÇÜK VIRAMARITIME BASKI 2018 SSM HAMBURG

NEWS
46
“Primitive boat” by using a technique
applied in Neolithic Period
Under the scope of an empirical
project started in Urla, a district in
İzmir, a “primitive boat” is being
built by a technique of burning
and carving inside of a beech log
with sharp stones.
With the PhD dissertation
“Anatolian Maritime Activities
in 7000s – 6000s B.C.” of
Koray Alper, faculty member
of Pamukkale University,
Archaeology Department and with
the support of the university, a
“primitive boat” belonging to a
period thousands of years before is
being built under a project started
in the empirical archaeology
museum of Association of
Historical Researches by 360
Degree in Urla.
Giving information about the
project, Alper said the dates he
studies are known as the Neolithic
Period of Western Anatolia and
there are numerous data about
the shipping trade between the
Anatolian coast and Aegean
Islands in this period.
”Theoretical thesis is present
about how trade was conducted by
sea way and what type of vessels
were used” said Alper, aiming
to test this thesis with empirical
practices.
Alper continued: “Mankind built
vessels from reeds first, but later
they developed boats enabling
cargo transportation enduring
waves and wind. Some were
thinking that people used to
travel on logs. At our first trial,
we observed that this was not true.
First, we threw a bare log to the
water; it was not possible to row
on it. There were no materials to
be used in boat building, except
obsidian or fire stones. In order
to machine the log with stones,
we started to apply burning
technique.”
Noting they started a controlled
fire and carving process with
bifaces inside the beech log
before ember went off, Alper
added they started a fire in the
middle and spread it to the sides
and controlled the fire by carving
or cooling extremely burnt parts
with water.
New boat to travel to Greek
Islands
Alper emphasized that working
against ember was not very easy
and also had difficulty due to the
primitive tools used. “The study
proceeds with the contributions
of volunteers, but we cannot run a
full time and systematic program.
“We estimated that forming the log
of 4 meters long, 95 centimeters
width into a boat will take almost
2 months. After carving process
ends, we will throw it to the sea
and test its balance. If needed, we
will add a stabilizer bar on sides.
After a test trip on coastline by
this boat next year, we will go on
a round trip to one of the Greek
Islands. Thus, we will enact the
trade in Neolithic Period.”
Under the scope of
a PhD dissertation
project conducted in the
empirical archaeology
museum in İzmir,
Urla, a “primitive
boat” is being built.
The faculty member of
Pamukkale University,
Archaeology
Department, Koray
Alpersaid: “By this
boat, we will organize a
round trip to one of the
Greek Islands. Thus, we
will enact the trade in
Neolithic Period.”