Mesolithic Log boats.

As the hollowing out of The Eurybia continues I thought I would take this time to talk a little bit about Mesolithic logboats in general.

The two oldest logboats ever found are those from Pesse (Netherlands) and Noyen-sur-Seine (France). Both date to the Mesolithic period and are fantastic examples of log boats. Both of the boats were made from pine trunks (as is The Eurybia), as time went on the type of wood changed and by the Bronze Age oak was the clear favorite choice for log boat construction.

Pesse is about 2.98 in length while the example from Noyen-sur-Seine was nearer 4m. Both had a rounded bow and most likely an integral rectangular stern. The sides and bottom of the boats measured 50-80mm thick though other examples of logboats are thinner still measuring only 20mm thick. It is hoped that The Eurybia will be finished with sides just as thin.

Other examples of Mesolithic logboats comes from Denmark where they are just as beautifuly made. Some have evidence for hearths and fire places in them and this has been associated with night spearing of eels. This evidence gives us some indication of the role of logboats during this period.

There are sadly no examples of logboats from the British Isles dating back to the Mesolithic, though it is thought that there may be evidence for their construction at a number of different sites including Bouldnor Cliff, Isle of White, Hampshire. It is hoped that with the help of The Eurybia project we may better understand the debitage created when building logboats.

For more information on logboats throughout the ages you can not go wrong with Sean McGrail's book: Boats of the World; From Stone Age to Medieval Times.