Roman Ship Project: The FAU fleet is growing
New boat project at FAU in full swing
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)’s fleet is growing: After the reconstruction of two ancient Roman patrol boats, the F.A.N. and the Danuvia alacris, Prof. Dr. Boris Dreyer, professor of Ancient History at FAU, is now building another boat. The boat in question is a flat-bottomed cargo ship or barge.
The reconstruction is based on Zwammerdam II that was found close to the Dutch village of the same name in 1972. The flat-bottomed cargo ship was able to pass through shallow waters and still transport several tonnes of goods. When traveling along small rivers, the barge would use a drift sail, be towed by animals on the bank, or punted along using a stake. Zwammerdam II is 22.75 meters long, with a maximum width of 2.80 meters and a weight of approximately eight tonnes. The barge was found together with two similarly built boats and three logboats near the former Nigrum Pullum fort and dates back to the year 205 CE.
“We are reconstructing the boat using oak alone, at a scale of 1:2,” explains Boris Dreyer, professor of Ancient History. One of the reasons why a smaller scale was chosen were space constraints in the shipyard at Schlungenhof. “Such flat-bottomed Roman boats of all sizes would have traveled across the whole of the Roman empire. Even though we are building it at a smaller scale, we are still building a historically accurate replica of the boat,” he continues.
Like with the previous boat-building projects, Prof. Dreyer relies on a number of volunteers and students from FAU. And the team has already made good progress: the floor has been constructed using the carvel, or edge to edge technique, and now only has to be sealed. Boris Dreyer and his assistants are currently fitting 42 frames. The frames are oak forks that hold the second row of planks in place. “The second row of planks, the keelson, on which the mast step sits, and the gangway are still missing,” says Prof. Dreyer. “We hope to be finished in April or May.”
The boot is to be tested on the Altmühl river. Even in ancient times, the river allowed people and goods to be transported to the forts Theilenhofen, Gnotzheim and Gunzenhausen.
The ancient flat-bottomed boat is not the only reconstruction project Boris Dreyer is currently involved in. Other projects led by the FAU professor of Ancient History include the reconstruction of Celtic chariots, various ancient weapons and two other boats. Boris Dreyer has founded the association “Erlebnis Geschichte und experimentelle Archäologie e.V.” for his experimental archeological projects.
Link to FAU’s Roman ships Zu EGEA e.V. To the Professorship for Ancient History
Further information:
Prof. Dr. Boris Dreyer
Phone: + 49 9131 85 25768
boris.dreyer@fau.de