Shipbuilding in Ancient Egypt

The Ancient Egyptians have left a multitude of evidence of their seafaring ways.  So what does this tell us about their activities? Were they trading, exploring, or even conquering different cultures? As you can see below there is a definite evolution in there shipbuilding craft and with the progression of their techniques there further the area they could travel.

A detailed documentary about the history of ancient Egyptian ship engineering  can be found below.

Papyrus rafts to boats

The first stage of their shipbuilding technology is thought to have started with Papyrus reed rafts, as shown by the recreation below. These rafts were made from papyrus reeds bound tightly together to form first a rafts and later boats.

Recreation of the Papyrus boat! Image source http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/316/khufu/papyrusboat.jpg.

Unfortunately these types of boats have not been preserved in the archaeological record but are frequently depicted in reliefs, like the one below. The characteristics of these reed boats definitely influenced the later incarnations made from wooden.

Image of papyrus boats. Image source: http://www.experience-ancient-egypt.com/ancient-egyptian-boats.html.

Wooden boats

Wooden shipbuilding in ancient Egypt is evidenced early on by paintings depicted on models, reliefs, and pots, like the ones shown below. These pots were dated to around 3500 B.C.E. and exhibit a crescent-shaped boat typical of the predynastic period.

A Gerzean (Egyptian) pot! This pot has a boat typical of the Egyptian predynastic period. The earliest is dated to around 3500 B.C.E. This is the only surviving physical evidence of shipbuilding from this era. Image source:  http://proteus.brown.edu/introtoegypt/admin/image.html?imageid=4332361.

Predynastic boats were constructed of wooden planks, typically 2 by 6 inches long. Planks were held together with cords made of either palm fiber or grass. The size of the planks is thought to be constrained due to small native Egyptian trees. The boats are built to be disassembled and reassembled as needed, no doubt a beneficial side effect of the size of the planks.

A representation of how these boat were held together! Image source http://anythingaesop.blogspot.com/2011_01_09_archive.html.

Man or Wind Driven?

Man-powered egyptian boats were paddled, rowed, or poled. Other boats carried a sail, the earliest of which  was a pole mast, followed by a two-legged mast. The mast sat high and had a oblong sail to catch upper breezes typical to the area. Sails could be found on both papyrus and wooden boats.

Archaeological Evidence

Unfortunately there is not much material evidenced dated this early (UPDATE! Look for the exciting new discovery linked below!) . However, excavations of a cemetery at a small village near Cairo called Tarkhan has found planks dated to 3000 B.C.E. These planks exhibit features consistent with the intact boats that are dated centuries later. Several excavations of noble or royal cemeteries have also found pits, known as boat graves, that are thought to have once contained an intact boat.

Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops Royal Ship

The best preserved boat ever excavated was found next to the Great Pyramid at Giza commissioned by the Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops. A map of the site is found below.

Map of Giza complex. In the upper right hand corner you can see where the best preserved ancient boat was excavated! It is said the Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops was to use this boat to ferry him in the afterlife. Image source: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/316/khufu/giza-map.jpg

There are two boats. The one has been completely excavated has been dated to 2650 B.C.E. It is nearly 150 feet long and is made mostly of cedar. Cedar is not native to this area and would have had to be imported. The planks are held together by a mortise-and-tenon joints and lashing.

Planks are held together by mortise and tendon joints! These joints fit snugly together and are further lashed together. Image source: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/316/khufu/khufu-mortise1.jpg

The boat’s shell was built first, meaning that these planks were all lashed together and then a frame was inserted. This is opposite with how we typically approach boat building today. The beams, as shown in the image below, act with the cables to give the boat it’s distinctive frame. For more information regarding this ship design go here!

Drawing depicts how the Ancient Egyptians used the shell-first method and how later beams and cables were later added to give the boat shape! Image source: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/316/khufu/khufu-isometric2.jpg

The details of the excavation can be found here!

The first boat excavated at Giza! They are typically referred to as solar ships and were supposed to help carry Pharaoh Cheops traveling in the afterlife! Image source: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/class/316/khufu/khufu-stern.jpg.

The second boat is currently undergoing excavation by an Japanese and Egyptian team at Giza. Link here for more information!

Experimental Archaeology!

Recreation of an ancient wonder from Ancient Egypt! Watch as archaeologist attempt to build one of Pharaoh sea going ship!

Impact on Ancient Egyptian Society 

The development of these shipbuilding techniques allowed Ancient Egyptians to widen their trade network bringing new ideas, raw materials, and exporting their own textiles, glass, wheat, etc. Such feats reflects a well organized society that inspired the legacy that continues to survive.

Related articles

• The Discovery of the Oldest Boats in Egypt (anmm.wordpress.com) <— Reports date a new find to as early as 2950 B.C.E!!
• Forests in Ancient Egypt (lilianausvat.wordpress.com)<- information about the woods avialble for shipbuilding in ancient Egypt!

References

Vinson S. 1990. Ships in the ancient mediterranean. The Biblical Archaeologist 53(1)13-18.

Casson L. 1971. Ships and seamanship in the ancient world. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.