Italian canoes demonstrate the early development of advanced seafaring technology. A recent study published in the open-access journal PLOSONE by Juan F. Guibája of the National Research Council in Barcelona, ​​Spain, and colleagues shows that more than 7,000 years ago, people used technologically advanced ships to sail the Mediterranean.

Research has uncovered a technologically advanced vessel used in the Mediterranean more than 7,000 years ago, demonstrating the advanced seafaring techniques of early European civilizations, indicating a deep understanding of ship construction and potential avenues for future archaeological discoveries. Excavation of Canoe No. 5. Image source: Gibaja et al., 2024, PLOSONE, CC-BY4.0

Many of Europe's most important civilizations originated along the Mediterranean coast. This is evidenced by the presence of waterborne transport in the archaeological record and the presence of settlements on the coast and islands. In this study, Gibaja and colleagues shed new light on the history of seafaring technology by analyzing canoes from the Neolithic lakeside village of La Marmotta near Rome, Italy.

Excavations at the site revealed five canoes (canoes) built from hollowed trees and dated between 5700-5100 BC. Analysis of the canoes revealed that they were made from four different types of wood, which is unusual for similar sites, and that they also used advanced construction techniques such as transverse reinforcement.

One of the canoes is also associated with three T-shaped wooden objects, each with a series of holes that were likely used to secure ropes tied to sails or other nautical elements. These features, along with previous reconstruction experiments, suggest that these were seaworthy vessels, a conclusion supported by the presence of stone tools associated with nearby islands at the site.

Mamota No. 1 canoe. Displayed in the Civic Museum of Rome. Image source: Gibaja et al., 2024, PLOSONE, CC-BY4.0

The author describes these canoes as outstanding examples of prehistoric vessels, whose construction required a detailed knowledge of structural design and wood properties, as well as organized and specialized labor. The similarities between these canoes and newer seafaring technology support the idea that many of the major advances in seafaring technology were made during the early Neolithic period. The authors believe that there may be more ships preserved near La Marmota, which is a potential avenue for future research.

The authors add: "Direct dating of the Neolithic canoes from La Marmotta shows that they are the oldest canoes in the Mediterranean, providing valuable insights into Neolithic navigation. This study reveals the stunningly advanced technology of early farming and pastoral communities, highlighting their carpentry skills and complex boat-building techniques."

Compiled from:ScitechDaily