The Pesse canoe is believed to be the world's oldest-known boat and certainly the oldest-known canoe. Carbon dating indicates that the boat was constructed during the early mesolithic period between 8040 BC and 7510 BC.[1] It is now in the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands.
The boat is a dugout-style canoe measuring 298 centimetres (117 in) long and 44 centimetres (17 in) wide.[2] It was formed from a single Scots pine log.[3] Marks are present in the cavity, likely formed from flint or antler tools.[3]
It was a suitable vehicle for inhabitants who spent much of their time hunting and fishing in a watery landscape of marshes, creeks and lakes. This is confirmed by another discovery in the region of the great rivers Maas, Rhine and Waal: graves, dating back to between 5500 and 5000 BC. Judging by the food remains near the grave, the group lived on the safe heights of river dunes while using their canoes to catch pike in the river, in addition to using flint arrows to shoot birds while gathering fruits, vegetables and nuts.[4]
History
The Pesse canoe at the Drents Museum, 2019
The boat was discovered in 1955 during the construction of the Dutch A28 motorway. The route passes south of the village of Pesse in Hoogeveen through what was a peat bog. To construct the roadbed, the peat needed to be removed, and during excavation, a crane operator came across what he believed to be a tree trunk two metres (6 ft 7 in) below the surface. Local farmer Hendrik Wanders noticed the log and took it for further inspection. He gave the boat to the University of Groningen, where it was examined and freeze dried for preservation. It was later transferred to the Drents Museum, located near the discovery site.[5][6]
Debate
A visiting Danish archeologist questioned whether such a small boat would be seaworthy. In 2001, an exact replica was constructed by archaeologist Jaap Beuker and successfully paddled by a canoeist, proving that it did in fact function as a boat.[1]
Some also theorized that the find could have been another object, like an animal feeder.[7] Beuker noted that animals were not kept by the people from the boat's era (in fact, no domesticated farm or work animals were kept anywhere in Europe yet during the Mesolithic[7]), so it could not have been a trough. The boat is also similar in construction to prehistoric canoes found in other countries.[2]
References
^ ab"Oudste bootje ter wereld kon werkelijk varen". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). ANP. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^ abWierenga, Jan (12 April 2001). "Kano Van Pesse Kon Echt Varen". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^ abBeuker, J.R.; Niekus, M.J.L.Th. (1997). "De Kano Van Pesse - De Bijl Erin". De Nieuwe Drentse Volksalmanak (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^James C. Kennedy (2017) A Concise History of the Netherlands Cambridge : Cambridge University Press
^Wanders, Rene. "Boot van Pesse" (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
^ abNiekus, Marcel J.Th. (4 April 1998). "INGEZONDEN BRIEF (1)" [Letter to the Editor]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
May 10, 2023
pesse, canoe, believed, world, oldest, known, boat, certainly, oldest, known, canoe, carbon, dating, indicates, that, boat, constructed, during, early, mesolithic, period, between, 8040, 7510, drents, museum, assen, netherlands, typedugout, canoematerialscots,. The Pesse canoe is believed to be the world s oldest known boat and certainly the oldest known canoe Carbon dating indicates that the boat was constructed during the early mesolithic period between 8040 BC and 7510 BC 1 It is now in the Drents Museum in Assen Netherlands Pesse canoeThe Pesse canoeTypeDugout canoeMaterialScots pineLong298 centimetres 117 in Width44 centimetres 17 in Createdc 8040 7510 BCDiscovered1955village of PessePresent locationDrents Museum Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Debate 4 ReferencesDescription EditThe boat is a dugout style canoe measuring 298 centimetres 117 in long and 44 centimetres 17 in wide 2 It was formed from a single Scots pine log 3 Marks are present in the cavity likely formed from flint or antler tools 3 It was a suitable vehicle for inhabitants who spent much of their time hunting and fishing in a watery landscape of marshes creeks and lakes This is confirmed by another discovery in the region of the great rivers Maas Rhine and Waal graves dating back to between 5500 and 5000 BC Judging by the food remains near the grave the group lived on the safe heights of river dunes while using their canoes to catch pike in the river in addition to using flint arrows to shoot birds while gathering fruits vegetables and nuts 4 History Edit The Pesse canoe at the Drents Museum 2019 The boat was discovered in 1955 during the construction of the Dutch A28 motorway The route passes south of the village of Pesse in Hoogeveen through what was a peat bog To construct the roadbed the peat needed to be removed and during excavation a crane operator came across what he believed to be a tree trunk two metres 6 ft 7 in below the surface Local farmer Hendrik Wanders noticed the log and took it for further inspection He gave the boat to the University of Groningen where it was examined and freeze dried for preservation It was later transferred to the Drents Museum located near the discovery site 5 6 Debate EditA visiting Danish archeologist questioned whether such a small boat would be seaworthy In 2001 an exact replica was constructed by archaeologist Jaap Beuker and successfully paddled by a canoeist proving that it did in fact function as a boat 1 Some also theorized that the find could have been another object like an animal feeder 7 Beuker noted that animals were not kept by the people from the boat s era in fact no domesticated farm or work animals were kept anywhere in Europe yet during the Mesolithic 7 so it could not have been a trough The boat is also similar in construction to prehistoric canoes found in other countries 2 References Edit a b Oudste bootje ter wereld kon werkelijk varen Leeuwarder Courant in Dutch ANP 12 April 2001 Retrieved 4 December 2011 a b Wierenga Jan 12 April 2001 Kano Van Pesse Kon Echt Varen Nieuwsblad van het Noorden in Dutch Retrieved 4 December 2011 a b Beuker J R Niekus M J L Th 1997 De Kano Van Pesse De Bijl Erin De Nieuwe Drentse Volksalmanak in Dutch Retrieved 4 December 2011 James C Kennedy 2017 A Concise History of the Netherlands Cambridge Cambridge University Press Wanders Rene Boot van Pesse in Dutch Retrieved 4 December 2011 Boot van Pesse Retrieved 17 October 2020 a b Niekus Marcel J Th 4 April 1998 INGEZONDEN BRIEF 1 Letter to the Editor Nieuwsblad van het Noorden in Dutch Retrieved 4 December 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pesse canoe amp oldid 1136247115, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
