Sailing rock art boats : a reassessment of seafaring abilities in Bronze Age Scandinavia and the introduction of the sail in the North
This thesis examines the basis for the current belief that the introduction of the sail in the North occurred between the 7th or 8th and the 10th centuries AD, almost a thousand years later than on the British Islands and almost 3000 years later than in the Mediterranean. The foundations for this reassessment of the potential timing and development in the use of the sail derives mainly from an examination of the Bronze Age rock art (1800â500 BC) in southern Scandinavia containing imagery of boats with attributes that can be interpreted as masts and sails. In combination with experimental sail trials in Bronze Age type boats and by comparing this material to available research on the transition from paddling to sailing in ancient Egypt and Oceania, the author argues that the use of sail as a complement to paddling would have formed an integral part of the formation of centres of power in Scandinavia in the early Bronze Age. This in turn would have permitted more frequent communication, helping to expand, maintain and control power. The transitions from downwind sailing abilities to abilities to sail within a wider range might have occurred relatively swiftly between c. 1550â1300 BC, and might be directly
Bengtsson, Boel
Sailing rock art boats : a reassessment of seafaring abilities in Bronze Age Scandinavia and the introduction of the sail in the North. This thesis examines the basis for the current belief that the introduction of the sail in the North occurred between the 7th or 8th and the 10th centuries AD, almost a thousand years later than on the British Islands and almost 3000 years later than in the Mediterranean. The foundations for this reassessment of the potential timing and development in the use of the sail derives mainly from an examination of the Bronze Age rock art (1800â500 BC) in southern Scandinavia containing imagery of boats with attributes that can be interpreted as masts and sails. In combination with experimental sail trials in Bronze Age type boats and by comparing this material to available research on the transition from paddling to sailing in ancient Egypt and Oceania, the author argues that the use of sail as a complement to paddling would have formed an integral part of the formation of centres of power in Scandinavia in the early Bronze Age. This in turn would have permitted more frequent communication, helping to expand, maintain and control power. The transitions from downwind sailing abilities to abilities to sail within a wider range might have occurred relatively swiftly between c. 1550â1300 BC, and might be directly
sailing rock_art boat reassessment seafaring ability bronze_age scandinavia introduction sail north examines basis current belief introduction sail north occur british islands mediterranean foundation reassessment potential timing development use sail derive mainly examination bronze_age rock_art southern_scandinavia contain imagery boat attribute interpreted sail combination experimental sail trial bronze_age type boat compare material_available transition sail ancient_egypt author argues use sail complement would form_integral part formation centre power scandinavia early_bronze_age turn would permit frequent communication help expand maintain_control power transition sail ability ability sail within_wide range might occur relatively swiftly might directly