Boats in History

At www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/1103-nwt081910.php is a news report on archaeological and maritime history. Tall waves and storm surges can destroy coastal archaeology so two Norwegian archaeologists have developed a method to combine meteorological phenomena into their chosen field. Temperature, precipitation, wind direction and wind force are factors – and each locality is in its way novel (there are lakes, fjiords, valleys, and mountains in Norway). Iron Age boats could be landed or beached in very shallow waters which are now only accessible by dinghys. As boats grew in size the landings sites of the Vikings were abandoned and the hope is that by using meteorology they will be able to locate prehistoric landing places – and the archaeology associated with them.