Ancient Mediterranean Shipyards and Harbours

Ancient shipyards and harbours in the Mediterranean from the Mesolithic until about 400 AD.

Since no remains of any boats dating to the early part of the Mesolithic have been discovered we have to surmise that they were either fire hollowed dugout canoes, reed boats or skin and frame construction, all feasible with the technology of the time. Such boats would have been constructed as and when needed in sheltered bays. Maintenance would have also been carried out at disparate locations as required.

As ships became more sophisticated and standardised, special facilities, shipyards, were needed. The early shipyards may have been no more than slipways, but they were locations where materials could be amassed, skilled artisans could build ships, launch them, and, when necessary, draw them from the water in order to repair them.

In parallel with ancient shipyards, as trade increased throughout the Mediterranean, so too did the need for sheltered docking and cargo handling facilities, in other words ports and harbours.

Although not strictly in the Mediterranean, the oldest shipyards and harbours in the world are to be found on the shores of the Red Sea. The Egyptians had such a huge influence on maritime engineering and ship design in the Mediterranean theatre that it would be remiss to omit these foundational sites.

1: Egypt's Wadi al-Jarf c 2600 - 2560 BC

The World's Oldest Harbour: Egypt's Wadi al-Jarf Breakwater c 2600 - 2560 BC Wadi el-Jarf, the world's oldest known artificial harbour, was briefly used during the late Fourth Dynasty (c. 2600 BC) Read the article >>

2: Egypt's Ayn Soukhna c 2500 - 1850 BC

Ayn Soukhna: Ancient Egypt's Red Sea Port & Shipyard (c. 2400-1850 BC) Ayn Soukhna was an ancient Egyptian harbour and shipyard on the Red Sea. Discoveries at this site, active from the Old t Read the article >>

3: Egypt's Mersa/Wadi Gawasis c 2000 - 1500 BC

Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: Egyptian Middle Kingdom shipyard c 2000 – c 1500 BC Mersa Gawasis was an active port from the Middle Kingdom into the New Kingdom. Unlike Ayn Soukhna, it was used for long- Read the article >>

4: Dana Island, Turkey c 800 BC - 700 AD

Dana Island: Turkey's Iron Age Shipyard and Ancient Naval Base The archaeological discoveries on Dana Island, located off the coast of Rough Cilicia (modern-day southern Turkey), have Read the article >>

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