Dover Bronze Age Boat

The found on 28 September 1992 Dover Bronze Age boat is currently the oldest former seagoing boat in the world. The remains of the built of planks sewn boat were under excavation, six feet below the streets of the town of Dover in the UK discovered on connecting the A20 to the Channel Tunnel. The process of analysis and conservation was completed in 1999.

That had not completely salvaged boat a rest length of 9.5 m ( originally at least 11.7 m), an approximate width of 2.25 m with a trunk height of 0.8 m. It probably weighed about 2.3 tons and dated from about 1550 BC

The boat was divided during the excavation in 32 pieces. The salvaged hull has four oak planks. The boat was built from at least three straight grained oak trees that had an age of over 300 years, when they were precipitated. They came from a dense forest, as few side branches had formed. Two connected with wooden wedges planks formed the flat bottom. The woods run at the bow apart for receiving a lost end piece Y -shaped. The side planks were sewn together with yew branches. Through moss and probably animal fat used the boat clearly had been sealed. The machining marks on its outer surface soil were worn. This suggests that there had been regularly placed on a beach. Originally the boat probably had more side planks.

The boat was rowed by a crew of 16 people, easily reach five knots and was up to wind force and a four -meter-high waves seaworthy. Notes on a pole missing. It seems appropriate to carry a load over a moderately long distance is not too inclement weather. On a good day, with low tide, it could perhaps cover 30 nautical miles. A small piece of raw shale, which was found on the floor of the boat, according to the analysis comes from the 160 miles westerly Kimmeridge Bay.