Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, Mission 2007-2008 - Kathryn A. Bard and Rodolfo Fattovich et alii

Ship Wood - C. Calcagno and C. Zazzaro

Timbers
C. Calcagno and C. Zazzaro

Ship Timbers: Description and Preliminary Analysis
During the course of the 2007-08 field season, a total of five ship timbers were identified; two were fully excavated while three were initially recorded and left in situ.
Two ship timbers were found during excavations in WG 55 lying across the entrance of Cave 7, perhaps to facilitate access to the cave, as in Cave 2 (Bard and Fattovich 2007: 65). Unfortunately, excavation was interrupted in this area due to safety concerns, and the two timbers were only partially recorded.
One timber (T57; ca. 14 cm thick) appears to be a large plank, covered by a thick layer of salt encrustation, found in the windblown sand deposit filling the cave entrance (SU10, bottom). As the condition of the wood was quite poor, the most fragile part of the plank was removed and stored in Cave 3. The other plank (T74) was found on the floor, lying horizontally across the entrance to Cave 7, ca. 150 cm below the top of the cave. It is 4.5 cm in thickness and features a small notch on the exposed face; the condition of the wood seems to be quite good. No further apparent diagnostic features were visible after superficial examination.
A dismantled and reworked hull plank (T75) was found in the same context. The plank shows features suggesting it was originally a larger hull plank that was subsequently reworked and reduced in thickness (Figure 24). It is 93.5 cm long and tapers in width from the jagged end, which was split off, to the opposite end, which was sawn. Wood conditions are generally good. The plank features a shallow rectangular channel (9 cm x 7.5 cm x 1.2 cm) between the plank edge and a through-mortise, with trace impressions of five copper strips (1.5 cm in width) originally held in place within the channel by a rectangular wooden stopper (8.5 cm x ca. 1 cm) inside the mortise. Chisel marks are distinctly visible within the channel. On the same original outer face not far from the channel, another through-mortise was started and not completed; the unfinished recess measures 8.4 cm in width, while the actual perforation is only 4.3 cm wide. A peg (1.1 cm in diameter) located between two lashing holes (see below) is also attributable to the plank's first phase of use.
When the plank was recycled, its outer face was partially stripped off to remove gribble and re-used as the plank's inner face. On the opposite face gaps in the through-mortises were filled with white plaster. Two lashing channels on this face and a mortise and tenon fastening through one edge are also attributable to the plank's second phase of use. The lashing channels are characterized by two holes (1 cm in diameter) and related grooves for the lashing passages, and are associated with remains of a dripped dark substance which might have had a waterproofing function. The edge mortise is broken and its tenon is partially missing (6 cm x 1 cm). Several tool marks are visible close to one end of the plank, possibly attributable to hull cleaning activities.
Three large shallow cuts including two smaller adze marks (3 cm and 4 cm wide) can be discerned on the opposite face of the plank (corresponding to the outer face during the plank's second phase of use). They appear to have been made in order to adapt the plank to the hull shape. Chisel marks are also visible all around the peg and in the grooves carved for the lashing channels on this face.
This plank is comparable to other planks previously found at the site which have been identified as possibly belonging to small boats (see Bard and Fattovich 2007: 139, Figure 59)
In WG 32, an assemblage of large ship timbers was found outside Cave 6 aligned toward the cave entrance and covered with a thick encrustation of salt, which covers an area of ca. 2.30 m x 1.0 m. The outlines of at least three long timbers could be discerned molded beneath this salt deposit, which has permeated the surface of the wood. One timber (T72) was identified as the upper part of a steering oar blade (Figure 25). Fragile conditions precluded full excavation of these timbers until further assessments can be completed, so they were left in situ and covered with sand.
Only the upper part of the steering oar blade was exposed and recorded; the wood was soft and breaks off fairly easily. The investigated portion of this timber is very similar to the steering oar blade T1 (Bard and Fattovich 2007: 150-153), and has been identified as Faidherbia albida as in the case of blade T1 (see Gerisch, Wood Identification, this report). The upper end of the blade is rounded; several saw marks (or smoothing tool marks) can be discerned where the end was shaped into a curve. A mortise measuring 8.5 cm x 1.5 cm, is located on the blade's exposed edge. A hole for rope (7 cm in diameter) was also recorded on its exposed face. The internal timber edge is concave (ca. 18 cm in diameter) where the blade was originally connected to the central loom. The estimated length of the blade is 210-220 cm, 10-20 cm larger than T1.
A plank (T73, 69.2 cm x 23.4 cm x 4.8 cm) was found in WG 33 in a layer of windblown sand close to terrace wall. Its dimensions and shape are comparable to other timbers identified as deck planks found at the site during previous field seasons. This plank was possibly reworked since the remains of two lashing channels are visible at one end.


Wood Debris
This field season 91 lots, comprising wood debris and branches collected by archaeologists, were inventoried. Most of the debris includes a number of pieces likely related to ship dismantling and hull cleaning, some with evidence of tool marks and surface stripping, significant traces of gribble and traces of red paint.
The greatest concentration of wood debris (54 lots) occurred in Excavation Unit WG 55, in squares corresponding to the entrance of Cave 7. The deposit of wood debris in this area is very similar to that found at the Cave 2 entrance and can be interpreted as the result of ship dismantling and hull cleaning activities that took place at the entrance of the cave. The adjoining unit WG 56, with the area of the "ceremonial" stone structure, only yielded nine lots of wood debris, also resulting from ship dismantling.
Wood debris from other excavation units is more poorly preserved, and it is often difficult to distinguish debris resulting from ship dismantling from fragments of broken boxes or other wooden objects.


Functional Elements
Wood debris also included fragments of functional elements such as ship equipment, fastenings and fragmentary timbers. These were inventoried separately and given W numbers.
A total of 16 (or possibly 17) tongue tenon fragments were identified in the wood debris deposit. Their thicknesses vary from 0.9 cm to 1.4 cm. In addition, 3 dovetail tenon halves were also found (ranging between 13 cm x 5 cm x 3.2 cm and 12.5 cm x 3.3 cm x 2.3 cm).
Three wood fragments feature what might be remains of rectangular mortises and gribble, and thus can be identified as pieces of dismantled ship timbers.
Two wood elements are almost triangular in section and are heavily reworked; they can be interpreted as possible wedges or types of repair elements (15.5 cm x 10.5 cm x 4.7 cm).
Two long wood elements are rounded in section with what appears to be an internal concavity. They are both c. 40 cm long and heavily damaged along their entire length; estimated diameter is 4.5 cm. They might have originally resembled rounded concave poles, possibly used as part of the ship equipment.
Functional elements came from excavation units located on the slopes below the fossil coral terraces (WG 32/WG 53, WG 52 and WG 55).


Ship Timbers, Preliminary Catalog
T57: WG 55, C1, SU10 bottom, Cave 7 entrance
Max L = est. ca. 65 cm, W = ca. 30 cm, Th = ca. 14 cm
Wood type: not recorded.
General description: Wood plank entirely encrusted in thick, rock-hard salt concretion, which prevents further identifying any diagnostic features. Found at a depth of 150 cm below the cave entrance. Part of the timber was broken during excavation and was stored in Cave 3. It was not possible to precisely record the full length of this timber.
Fastenings: not recorded.
Tool marks: not recorded.
Storage: Cave 3.

T72: WG 32, B4, SU33, Cave 6 entrance
Max est. L = 210-220 cm, Max exposed W = 23 cm, Max exposed Th = 18 cm
Wood type: Faidherbia albida.
General description: steering oar blade, covered by a thick layer of salt encrustation. Only one face (upper face as found) and a portion of the upper part were recorded. The timber's fragile condition precluded its full excavation until further assessment can be completed.
Fastenings: Mortise 1, eroded, Max L = 8.5, Max W = 1.5. Hole diameter 7 cm.
One edge of the blade appears concave in section in order to receive the central pole to which it would have been originally attached. The estimated diameter of the concavity is ca. 18 cm.
Toolmarks: saw marks (or smoothing tool marks) are visible on the upper part of the rounded end.
Storage: in situ.

T73: WG 33, C1, SU3
Max L = 69.2 cm, Max W = 23.4 cm, Max Th = 4.8 cm, Min Th = 2.4 cm
Wood type: not coniferous.
General description: deck plank, with the lower face almost completely covered by thick salt encrustation; two large cuts are visible at the interface between this face and one side. The upper face is flat and shows some cracks, one large knot, and two small knots.
The wood conditions are quite good, but some small cracks are visible on the surface.
Fastenings: two grooves, or possibly lashing channels, are carved at the interface between the upper face and one end; they measure ca. 1.5 cm x 1 cm.
Toolmarks: one adze mark (7.5 cm x 4 cm) on the lower face. Two possible chisel marks on the upper face. Saw marks are visible at both ends.
Storage: Cave 3.

T74: WG 55, C1, SU11, Cave 7 entrance
Max L = 77 cm, W = (maximum recorded) ≤ 17 cm, Th = 4.5 cm
Wood Type: not recorded.
General description: rectangular plank, not completely recorded and left in situ lying across the entrance to Cave 7. A small notch (1.2 cm deep) was recorded on the exposed face.
Fastenings: not recorded.
Toolmarks: not recorded.
Storage: in situ.

T75: WG 55, C1-C2, SU2-SU11
Max L = 94.2 cm, Max W = 21.2 cm, Max Th = 4 cm
Wood type: cedar type.
General description: reworked hull plank (Type 2 converted to Type 4 [22]).
One large knot (ca. 5 cm wide) is visible on both faces. Wood conditions are quite good, aside from a long crack and some salt encrustations on the inner face (Face B: lower face as found).
Fastenings: Mortise 1, a through mortise located toward one end of the plank, measures 5.5 cm x 0.9 cm and is 3.9 cm deep. No tenon remains are inside the mortise, but traces of white plaster can be discerned. Mortise 1 was probably cut by mistake: the area originally intended to be cut (8.3 cm in length) can still be identified on Face B. Mortise 2, cut within the thickness of the plank, measures 6 cm x 1 cm; the tenon, 0.4 cm thick, had been broken and moved from its original position. Mortise 3, a through mortise near the center of the plank, was likely carved for the plank's first phase of use; it is associated with a wooden stopper and a channel for copper ligatures carved on Face B. Mortise 3 measures 11.5-9 cm x 1.6 cm, while the wooden stopper measures 8.1 cm x 1.5 cm. White plaster was used on the inner face (Face A: upper face as found) to fill the gaps between the mortise and the wooden stopper. Green traces of five copper strips, 1.5 cm wide, are still visible within the ligature channel. Two lashing channels with holes (1 cm in diameter), spaced 6.7 cm from each other, were carved in order to connect one side with an adjacent plank. The related grooves for the lashing passage are visible on Face A. Remains of a black substance are associated with this fastening. A peg, likely related to the plank's first phase of use, is located between the two lashing channels and measures 1.1 cm in diameter.
Toolmarks: three large shallow cuts, including two smaller adze marks (3 cm and 4 cm wide), characterize the lower part of the outer face (Face A). Chisel marks are visible all around the peg and in the grooves carved for the lashing channels on Face A. On Face B some tool marks are visible close to one end (End 1).
Storage: Cave 3.


Wood Debris
WD 91: unknown provenance, possibly from WG 55, 1 small bag.

Wood Functional Elements
W379 to W406: 27 pieces in total.
W403, W389: 2 elements, triangular in section: possible wedges.
W390, W393: 2 elements, circular in section, est. diameter 5 cm.
Tongue tenons: 16 (+ 1 possible).
Dovetail tenon halves: 3.

Fragmentary Timbers
W382, W383, W384: fragmentary timbers, two (W382 and W383) with possible mortise cavity and gribbles; unknown provenance, possibly from WG 55.

Pleases find attached .pdf files with the full report and the related figures