Ancient Scandinavians are believed to have used boats made of animal skins for fishing, hunting, and trading, according to a new study published in the Journal of Maritime Archaeology. The Pitted Ware Culture (PWC), a Neolithic group that existed in Scandinavia between 3500 and 2300 B.C., is known for their distinctive pottery and skilled maritime hunting techniques, particularly in hunting seals. Researchers suggest that the PWC may have utilized seal hides to construct watercraft, as well as seal oil for waterproofing.
Pottery artifacts from PWC sites have been found to contain traces of lipid residue from seal oil, indicating the importance of seals in their culture. The ability to navigate waterways and access boats would have been essential for the survival of the PWC, as they relied heavily on fishing for sustenance. Living in an area surrounded by vast bodies of water such as the Baltic and North seas, the PWC would have needed efficient means of transportation for hunting, fishing, and trading with other groups.
Seal Skin Boats for Long-Distance Travel
The researchers propose that more primitive boats, such as canoes made from hollowed-out logs, would have been inadequate for traveling long distances across open water. Instead, boats made from seal hide would have provided the durability and stability needed to navigate the vast expanses of the ocean. These boats, depending on their size, could have potentially accommodated up to a dozen people at a time, as well as animals like deer, bears, and cattle for transportation and trade purposes.
Despite the lack of physical evidence of complete boats, fragments discovered at archaeological sites in northern Sweden suggest the possible use of Neolithic skin boats by the PWC. Rock art depicting people traveling by boat, including vessels equipped with harpoon rests resembling animal heads, further supports the theory that the PWC were skilled boat builders with advanced seafaring technologies. The drawings depict boats that closely resemble ethnographic skin boats used today, indicating a sophisticated understanding of watercraft construction.
Evidence of Advanced Boat-Building Techniques
The intricate details in the rock art, such as translucent depictions of rectangular boats revealing their framework, suggest that the PWC people were adept at utilizing advanced craft for seafaring. The presence of harpoon rests on the boats in the drawings indicates a specialized knowledge of hunting techniques while at sea. These depictions, combined with the possible fragments of boat frames discovered at archaeological sites, provide compelling evidence of the PWC’s proficiency in boat construction and navigation.
The use of skin boats by the PWC raises the question of why this technology did not persist into recorded history. Despite their advanced boat-building skills and seafaring capabilities, the disappearance of skin boats from later historical records remains a mystery. Further research may shed light on the reasons behind the decline of this innovative watercraft technology among the PWC and its eventual replacement by other forms of boat construction.
In conclusion, the study of ancient Scandinavian boats made of animal skins offers valuable insights into the maritime history of the Pitted Ware Culture. By analyzing pottery artifacts, lipid residues, and rock art depictions of boats, researchers have uncovered evidence of the PWC’s reliance on seal hide boats for fishing, hunting, and trading. The intricate details in the drawings and the presence of harpoon rests indicate a high level of craftsmanship and technological sophistication among the PWC boat builders. While the mystery of the disappearance of skin boats from historical records remains unsolved, the legacy of the PWC’s innovative watercraft technology endures as a testament to their maritime prowess.