Überlegungen zum Bau und zur Entwicklung bronzezeitlicher Schiffe

Abstract

The rock paintings of Scandinavia provide a multitude of pictorial sources for navigation in the Bronze Age. Nevertheless, there are no fixed conceptions of the actual appearance and construction of the ships of this epoch. Three reasons can be cited: Firstly, research is frequently limited to regionally confined, easily accessible material, above all from Southern Scandinavia. Secondly, questions posed with regard to the material usually fail to take the Ievei of factual knowledge into account, concentrating instead on more comprehensive 'interpretations.' Thirdly, archaeological findings are extremely scarce. The only preserved vessel is the relatively late (13th c. B.C.) Hjortspring Boat, of which a reconstruction has also been carried out. The circumstances are further aggravated by the fact that the amount of pictorial material is immense and continually increasing, so that to date it has not been possible to draw up a comparative survey taking all regions of Scandinavia into account. The examination of the individual elements of the Bronze Age ship depictions - hull form, ornamentation, subdivision, post form and post embellishment, keel fin (?), paddle propulsion, masts (?), crew sizes - clearly indicates that the rock paintings supply not only an abundance of technical information, but even allow calculations of approximate ship sizes based on the size of the crew. A boat with a crew of 32, for example, is estimated to have measured some 20 metres in length. The vessels depicted served almost exclusively for the transport of persons, who may have carried a !arge number of objects with them (weapons, lurs, paddles, ceremonial [?] equipment). A comparison of the Hjortspring Bost construction with the evidence provided by the rock paintings reveals a !arge degree of correspondence. Furthermore, on this 283 basis, the assumption that Bronze Age ships were built of solid wood appears all the more justified. lt is thus possible to surmise an unbroken tradition of Nordic clinker work from the Bronze Age to the Viking period and beyond. Alternative constructions (skin boats, bark boats) can be found in special regional forms, but are unlikely to apply to the prevalent form. Success can be predicted for the endeavours to extend the tradition back into earlier Stone Age epochs. Furthermore, pictures in Alta (2nd phase) and Nämforsen provide what seems to be very promising material in the quest for transitional forms between the typical boats of the game hunters' period and those of the Bronze Age. Our primary concern should not, however, be the construction of an uninterrupted tradition but the recognition of unique forms developed in correspondence with regional particularities. ln the context ethnic and cultural differences also play a role.