Stories of globalisation: The Red Sea and the Persian Gulf from Late Prehistory to Early Modernity. Selected papers of Red Sea Project VII. A. Manzo, C. Zazzaro, & D. De Falco Joyce, eds. . Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2019
The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from ... more The present paper summarises the question of the use of wood in boatbuilding in the Red Sea from classical antiquity until present times. It draws on primary sources and archaeological evidence from the Greco-Roman era and the mediaeval Islamic period. In doing so, the paper sheds the light on timber trade and exploitation processes of the past, and how these interlinked with the geopolitics and socio-economics of the time. The Red Sea regions are portrayed not only as wood importers from the Mediterranean, East Africa and South Asia but also as beneficiaries of local wood resources for their boatbuilding needs. Similarly, the paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local wood in favour of Indian timber, especially teak. Thus it suggests the need to consider other timber species that were equally suitable for boatbuilding, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers.
This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
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countries, where the discipline is relatively young: Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt. Emphasis is given to capacity building, through discussion of good practice and constraints that
can be documented during the last two decades on diverse levels: education and training,
governance, legislation, and public awareness. Although the three countries share cultural
and socio-political backgrounds, the vast majority of the activities described in this paper
are country-specifc and too recent for their impact to be evaluated. Therefore, the authors
place the focus on the processes rather than the results. Through a comparative analysis of
local maritime archaeological histories and contemporary realities, they distinguish some
key factors for the sustainability of maritime archaeological capacity building: locally
based administrative and scholarly institutions, external funding, and public archaeology
programmes to enhance appreciation of the maritime cultural heritage by local communities. It is also demonstrated that wars during 1970s and 1990s, in Cyprus and Lebanon
respectively, have created unfavourable conditions for the development of maritime archaeology, whereas in Egypt emblematic underwater projects, international synergies and funding, as well as locally-based research and educational institutions, seem to have created a
more responsive socio-political landscape for building capacity in maritime archaeology.
This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
archives of Tell el-Amarna. In several letters sent from the king of Byblos Rib-Hadda to
the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ampi figures among the cities that were allied to the
kingdom of Amurru against Rib-Hadda. It was the location where Amorite ships lay at
anchor ahead of pursuing their offensive southwards towards Byblos. The literary canon
from subsequent periods also testifies to the presence of harbour(s) at Anfeh and provides
insights into its naval history.
This paper considers recent on land and underwater investigations conducted by the
Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand at the site
of Anfeh since 2013 in order to identify possible harbour installations. It draws upon
historical, archaeological, geomorphological, and remote sensing data to contribute an
appreciation of the site’s maritimity, its harbour interfaces, their characteristics, and their
affordances.
relationship its ancient peoples had with the sea in terms of exploiting maritime resources, navigating its waters, and accordingly modifying the landscape through time.
countries, where the discipline is relatively young: Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt. Emphasis is given to capacity building, through discussion of good practice and constraints that
can be documented during the last two decades on diverse levels: education and training,
governance, legislation, and public awareness. Although the three countries share cultural
and socio-political backgrounds, the vast majority of the activities described in this paper
are country-specifc and too recent for their impact to be evaluated. Therefore, the authors
place the focus on the processes rather than the results. Through a comparative analysis of
local maritime archaeological histories and contemporary realities, they distinguish some
key factors for the sustainability of maritime archaeological capacity building: locally
based administrative and scholarly institutions, external funding, and public archaeology
programmes to enhance appreciation of the maritime cultural heritage by local communities. It is also demonstrated that wars during 1970s and 1990s, in Cyprus and Lebanon
respectively, have created unfavourable conditions for the development of maritime archaeology, whereas in Egypt emblematic underwater projects, international synergies and funding, as well as locally-based research and educational institutions, seem to have created a
more responsive socio-political landscape for building capacity in maritime archaeology.
This study also draws on ethnographic research in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, timber exploitation processes and the variables involved in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry – i.e., by drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography – the paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.
archives of Tell el-Amarna. In several letters sent from the king of Byblos Rib-Hadda to
the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ampi figures among the cities that were allied to the
kingdom of Amurru against Rib-Hadda. It was the location where Amorite ships lay at
anchor ahead of pursuing their offensive southwards towards Byblos. The literary canon
from subsequent periods also testifies to the presence of harbour(s) at Anfeh and provides
insights into its naval history.
This paper considers recent on land and underwater investigations conducted by the
Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand at the site
of Anfeh since 2013 in order to identify possible harbour installations. It draws upon
historical, archaeological, geomorphological, and remote sensing data to contribute an
appreciation of the site’s maritimity, its harbour interfaces, their characteristics, and their
affordances.
relationship its ancient peoples had with the sea in terms of exploiting maritime resources, navigating its waters, and accordingly modifying the landscape through time.
from subsequent periods also testifies to the presence of harbour(s) at Anfeh and provides
insights into its naval history.
This paper considers recent on land and underwater investigations conducted by the Department of Archaeology and Museology at the University of Balamand at the site of Anfeh since 2013 in order to identify possible harbour installations. It draws upon historical, archaeological, geomorphological, and remote sensing data to contribute an appreciation of the site’s maritimity, its harbour interfaces, their characteristics, and their affordances.
the northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman period is being researched, surveyed, and excavated and, more importantly, how it is being protected and conserved against all odds.
In 2012, the HFF started an initiative to provide students from the Eastern Mediterranean the opportunity to further their studies in in maritime archaeology with financial support and incorporation into the wider academic network. By supporting scholars interested in maritime archaeology and granting them the means to continue their work, the HFF sparked a development that would progress the discipline for years to come. More specifically, students were now able to gain valuable experience and form long-lasting connections with experienced researchers while contributing research to their respective countries.
The present paper outlines the research conducted by HFF funded scholars in Lebanon and Egypt. It describes how the educational support provided by the Foundation has helped shape their careers. By conveying their stories, this paper aims to demonstrate the impact of this HFF capacity building initiative on individual and regional scales. Topics include maritime connections in the Early Bronze Age Levant, cultural landscapes and seascapes of Anfeh in North Lebanon, ethnographic studies of Nile boats, and Roman trade along the Near Eastern seaboard. Finally, this paper highlights how the HFF helped not only in funding, but also in guiding research and connecting scholars with the wider communities of researchers, while sharing preliminary results of the recipients’ work.
This paper considers the maritime cultural landscape of Anfeh, an albeit understudied coastal site in North Lebanon. It seeks an appreciation of Anfeh’s maritime heritage, past and present. It will describe how an important site that played a role in the economy of the Northern Levant from the Early Bronze Age to the Ottoman Period site is being researched, surveyed and excavated. The multifaceted research project aims at reconstructing the history of Anfeh by combining archaeological data from surveys and excavations, with an in-depth study of ancient epigraphic and literary sources; as well as ethnographic data collected from oral histories. Continuous research promises to locate the ancient city of Ampa [Anfeh] and to investigate its maritime activities with a focus on the anthropic experience of its maritime landscape.
This paper stresses that little attention has been given to the exploitation of local woods in favour of a greater reliance on Indian timber, especially teak. Thus, it suggests the need to consider other timber species which were equally suitable for shipwrightry, as well as other western Indian Ocean wood providers.
This study has also drawn on ethnographic research in Jizan and the Farasan Archipelago in Saudi Arabia. The ethnographic enquiry focused on vernacular names of timbers, the timber exploitation processes, and the variables that come at play in the metamorphosis of a tree into a boat part. Finally, by interlinking diverse pathways of enquiry drawing on primary sources, archaeology and ethnography, this paper aims to contribute to the field of maritime culture and maritime archaeology a deeper understanding of wooden boatbuilding in the Red Sea.