Archaeological contributions on Arabian Peninsula. Bitumen is probably one of the most widely investigated archaeological materials. Modern instrumental analytical methods have been applied to a very large variety of bituminous compositions that have come from the archaeological record. This has allowed researchers to identify both the main and the secondary components of almost the all of the archaeological specimens that have been examined. The most important information gained from these studies has been information on commercial routes and water transport between countries that are sometimes very distant to one another.7 The uses of bituminous materials, their composition, the technologies surrounding them and methods of modifications are, for the most part, clear and well established. However, the caulking technology that employed bitumen during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC remains relatively unclear. During this time bitumen was used to caulk the so-called ‘Black Boats of Magan’ that were made of bundled reeds lashed together, and made waterproof by the application of some complex bituminous composition. This was made abundantly clear recently when a series of experiments were conducted to apply bitumen caulking to a modern replica of a reed boat like those of ancient Oman (Magan). These experiments all failed due to a lack of adhesion between the bituminous composition and the envelope of bundled reeds and wooden fittings, which constituted the hull of the boat. In order to understand the original ancient caulking technology, which surely yielded a durable, waterproof ‘shell’ around the reed bundles and the wooden fittings, we need to consider the practical aspects of the question.
RINALDI, G., TOSI, M. (2008). Caulking Technologies of ‘Black Boats of Magan’. Some New Thoughts on Bronze Age Water Transport in Oman and Beyond from the Impressed Bitumen Slabs of Ra’s al Junayz. Leiden : Brill Academic Pub.
Caulking Technologies of ‘Black Boats of Magan’. Some New Thoughts on Bronze Age Water Transport in Oman and Beyond from the Impressed Bitumen Slabs of Ra’s al Junayz
TOSI, MAURIZIO
2008
Abstract
Archaeological contributions on Arabian Peninsula. Bitumen is probably one of the most widely investigated archaeological materials. Modern instrumental analytical methods have been applied to a very large variety of bituminous compositions that have come from the archaeological record. This has allowed researchers to identify both the main and the secondary components of almost the all of the archaeological specimens that have been examined. The most important information gained from these studies has been information on commercial routes and water transport between countries that are sometimes very distant to one another.7 The uses of bituminous materials, their composition, the technologies surrounding them and methods of modifications are, for the most part, clear and well established. However, the caulking technology that employed bitumen during the second half of the 3rd millennium BC remains relatively unclear. During this time bitumen was used to caulk the so-called ‘Black Boats of Magan’ that were made of bundled reeds lashed together, and made waterproof by the application of some complex bituminous composition. This was made abundantly clear recently when a series of experiments were conducted to apply bitumen caulking to a modern replica of a reed boat like those of ancient Oman (Magan). These experiments all failed due to a lack of adhesion between the bituminous composition and the envelope of bundled reeds and wooden fittings, which constituted the hull of the boat. In order to understand the original ancient caulking technology, which surely yielded a durable, waterproof ‘shell’ around the reed bundles and the wooden fittings, we need to consider the practical aspects of the question.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.