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<< News >> 3000-Year old Log Boat raised from Tay Estuary

Submitted by coldrum on Saturday, 19 September 2009  Page Views: 14524

DiscoveriesCountry: Scotland County: Perth and Kinross
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One of the oldest boats discovered in Scotland is being excavated and raised from its site in the Tay Estuary. The Carpow log boat, as it is known, situated near Abernethy, was discovered in 2000. Identifying it as a log boat, used for fishing and wildfowling, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust radiocarbon dated it to 1000BC - the late Bronze Age.

Archaeologist David Strachan of the Trust explained: “It was discovered in 2000 by a metal detectorist – half of it was sticking out of the mud.”

“The buried portion of it was very well preserved with intact transom boards [stern timbers], but the exposed part is deteriorating.”

There are records of 150 log boats from Scotland, yet only 30 survive in museums or in situ and these are often distorted by shrinkage or warping. Records show seven log boats found in the Tay estuary, but only one survives, in Dundee Museum. Found in 1860, it has been dated to about 500AD.

The Carpow log boat is not only one of the best preserved, but also the second oldest dated log fishing boat from Scotland.

More: 24hr Museum

Note: Replica Bronze Age boat proves a handful for Loch Tay volunteers, see comment

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"3000-Year old Log Boat raised from Tay Estuary" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: 3000-Year old Log Boat raised from Tay Estuary by Anonymous on Sunday, 23 October 2011
How big/small is the logboat in the Tay Estuary?
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Replica Bronze Age boat proves a handful for Loch Tay volunteers by Andy B on Saturday, 19 September 2009
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The Bronze Age lived on at Loch Tay yesterday, as a replica of a 3000-year-old logboat successfully completed its maiden voyage. A team of more than 30 volunteers worked for three weeks to make the boat, modelled on a prehistoric vessel discovered in the Tay estuary in 2001.

The Bronze Age lived on at Loch Tay yesterday, as a replica of a 3000-year-old logboat successfully completed its maiden voyage.

A team of more than 30 volunteers worked for three weeks to make the boat, modelled on a prehistoric vessel discovered in the Tay estuary in 2001.

Six were given the chance to paddle the craft as it made the short trip to the Scottish Crannog Centre, near Aberfeldy, from a nearby picnic site.

The volunteers were tasked with creating the nine metre-long boat from a single Douglas Fir, using replicas of Bronze Age tools alongside their modern equivalents.

"We used a combination, to test them against each other," said archaeologist David Strachan of the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, which organised the project in partnership with the Crannog Centre. "We'd do one patch using modern tools, one patch using ancient tools. Our estimate is that these are about a third as efficient as modern tools."

More at

http://www.heraldscotland.com/bronze-age-boat-proves-a-handful-for-loch-tay-volunteers-1.917626
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Re: 3000-Year old Log Boat to be raised from Tay Estuary by Andy B on Friday, 28 August 2009
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It's back to the roots for boatbuilding!

A dedicated team of historical experts will be going back to the roots of boatbuilding using bronze age tools to carve a replica of a bronze age longboat. Now that's dedication.

The replica is being based on the original Carpow longboat discovered in Loch Tay Photo: Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

The hard work is all in the name of experimental archaeology of course. The team hope that by building the replica longboat they will learn more about how past societies built sailing vessels and were able to take to the water.

The three week project is running on the banks of Loch Tay in Scotland. It is being conducted by the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) in partnership with the Scottish Crannog Centre, and supported by the Big Tree Country Heritage & Access Project (BTC HAAP).

The boat is being carved from the trunk of a massive 12m long sitka spruce. It will be crafted using tools and techniques from around 3,000 years ago.

PKHY staff, volunteers and the Crannog crew will work under the guidance of woodworking specialist Damian Goodburn to transform the log from a mere trunk to finished the craft using replica Bronze Age axes, adges and chisels.

The project was inspired by the discovery of a bronze age Carpow logboat in Loch Tay dating to around 1000BC. It is currently undergoing conservation at the National Museums of Scotland after it having been raised.

David Strachan, PKHT manager, says, ‘We’ll use replica Late Bronze Age axes, much smaller than their modern day counterparts, and the finished vessel will be around 10m long. This project offers a rare opportunity to see experimental archaeology in action and would make for a great day out, along with a visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre, to try out some of the early technology.’

The project was funded primarily through the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme (SFGS), with contributions from PKCT partners and the landowners.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the project on the shores of Loch Tay at the Forestry Picnic site of Dalerb, just outside Kenmore until Saturday 29 August. Visiting hours are between 10am and 3pm.

http://www.maritimejournal.com/archive101/2009/august/online_news/its_back_to_the_roots_for_boatbuilding!
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Re: 3000-Year old Log Boat to be raised from Tay Estuary by Anonymous on Friday, 16 February 2007
I was one of the team helping to recover the carpow log boat.
The Achaeologist David Strachen, is being very misleading on 'how' he explained that " half of it was sticking out of the mud".
less the 6 inch's were explosed ie 'sticking out of the mud'.
tho the front of the boat was damaged and the front had twisted out of shape.

my friend "fellow metal detectorist" Scott, spotted the outline of a boat in the sand in 2001, and reported his find.

it was his keen eye and knowledge, that discovered the carpow logboat.
The reason 'why' him and fellow metal detectorist like myself, detect in that area, is because of the Romen carpow Bridge!!!
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Boat provides historical insight by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 January 2007
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A Bronze Age logboat which had lain unseen in the River Tay for 3,000 years is being studied by archaeologists.

It is hoped the find will yield important new information about how human ancestors lived.

Although the boat, made from the trunk of a single oak, was found five years ago, it was only lifted out of the Tay during the summer.

Repairs carried out on the 30ft vessel have already given experts an insight into Bronze Age technology.

The boat, which would have been powered by up to 12 men, is being studied by archaeologists in Edinburgh who have claimed it to be one of the best examples of its kind in Scotland.


news.bbc.co.uk.
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