Bronze & Iron Age Shipbuilding in the Mediterranean

During the Bronze and Iron Ages, maritime activity in the Mediterranean Sea burgeoned as the emerging elites and powerful states demanded more resources from outside the boundaries of their empires.

Not surprisingly, ships carrying those resources increased in size, carrying capacity and seaworthiness.

The preservation of organic materials, such as wood, in the marine environment presents significant challenges for archaeologists. Consequently, the survival of substantial portions of ancient ship hulls is often limited. With few wrecks to examine, we have to turn to other ways of discovering how ship designs evolved and how shipbuilding techniques improved.

This project looks at shipwrecks from the Bronze and Iron Ages, contemporaneous art on frescoes, ceramics and inscriptions, and clay, lead and bronze models of ships created by ancient artisans to chart the course of naval architecture in the Mediterranean Sea from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman Empire period.

1: Dawn of Naval Architecture

Bronze and Iron Age Dawn of Naval Architecture in the Mediterranean

Bronze and Iron Age Mediterranean shipbuilding (3000-300 BC). Analysis of hull construction methods, ship design evoluti Read the article >>

2: Early Bronze Age c 3000 - 2000 BC

Early Bronze Age Shipbuilding in the Mediterranean: Aegean & Egypt

Early Bronze Age ship depictions and construction in the Aegean (Cycladic frying pans, Minoan models, Dokos shipwreck) a Read the article >>

3: Middle Bronze Age c 2000 - 1600 BC

Middle Bronze Age Maritime Technology: Aegean, Minoan Crete and Egypt

Middle Bronze Age ship evolution in the Aegean, Minoan Crete alongside Egyptian royal boats and Red Sea harbour evidence Read the article >>

4: Late Bronze Age c 1600 - 1200 BC

Late Bronze Age Maritime Technology in the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea

The Late Bronze Age was a period of heightened international trade, diplomatic exchange, and, at times, conflict in the Read the article >>

5: Early Iron Age 1200 - 700 BC

Early Iron Age Shipbuilding: 1200-700 BC - Naval Warfare, Ship Depictions & Shipwrecks

During the Early Iron Age, new empires were emerging in the Middle East. It was a time of confusion and uncertainty. Nav Read the article >>

6: Late Iron Age c 700 – 264 BC

Mediterranean Shipbuilding during the Late Iron Age

Explore the long shipbuilding traditions of ancient Egypt and the Aegean, the rise of Hellenistic naval architecture, an Read the article >>

7: The Roman Era 264 BC – 400 AD

Naval Technology in the Mediterranean during the Roman Era

Naval technology was spurred on during the Roman era by successive conflicts starting with the Punic Wars. Cargo ships c Read the article >>