Expeditions of experimental archaeology organised in 1995 and 1998 were
given names Monoxylon I and II. During the first one we crossed over 300 km between islands on a log-boat of a hypothetical
design. During the second one a different boat covered over 800 km along the Mediterranean Sea coast. The performance of
both expeditions modified our ideas about possibilities of early sea navigation.
1. Introduction
The completion of an experimental voyage with a replica or
a reconstruction of a possible prehistoric craft (for example Tzalas 1989) always reflects back on theoretical
research (Broodbank - Strasser 1991, Cherry 1990). But mostly it can correct our modern views of possibilities
of prehistoric navigation. It corrects models based on incorrect hypothesis with correct data (Nikolov 1990, Korfmann 1988).
In other cases the problems of the oldest sea faring is put into relations with the prehistoric social processes.
Modern reconstructions of them obscure the reality with abstract models (for example Tyrrhenian filter model, see Lewthwaite 1986).
The divided research of nautical archaeology (Gardiner - Christensen 1996, Greenhill - Morrison 1995) and settlement
archaeology is one of current problems with recognition of the importance of prehistoric sea faring. A certain connection
is the boat building itself. It had to take place within a settlement or in its vicinity. Such settlement had to have
a strategically favourable position, suited to sea faring. The newly discovered site "La Marmota" in the Italian
Lake Bracciano (Fugazzola Delpino - Mineo 1995) gives us such evidence. The Neolithic settlement is supposed to be
the oldest Cardial settlement in the Western Mediterranean. It shows us a probable place of boat building (log-boats).
It is situated in a sheltered place connected in past with sea by a river. There was found evidence of the transportation
of materials (obsidian from the Lipari Islands), cultural contacts (painted and impresso ware) and advanced domestication
of animals and crops (Cassoli - Tagliacozzo 1995). Therefore it could have been a filial settlement for the Eastern Mediterranean
and in the same time a principal settlement for the Western Mediterranean. The chance to find a whole chain of sequential
settlements is currently minimal....
* * *
More (in Czech) you can find in the supplement "
Expedice Monoxylon: Pocházíme z mladší doby bronzové" and in the book:
"
Monoxylon II. Plavba po 8000 letech". An article was published in
REA1/2000. Full Czech version of the article is available here:
eXrea-net_REA_Monoxylon_II_CZ.pdf (34 stran; 2,02 MB)
eXrea-net_REA_Monoxylon_II_ENG.pdf (19 pages; 1,36 MB)
