ANTH 611

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Introduction To Nautical Archaeology

Prof. Cemal Pulak,
Nautical Archaeology Program, Department of Anthropology

Office hours: Th 1:00 – 3:00 pm or by appointment
Location: Anthropology 128A (inside the Old World Laboratory, Anthropology 128)
Email: pulak@tamu.edu
Phone: 845-6697 (office) /845-5242 (department)

Course Description

This survey course is taught in lecture format and is intended to provide entering graduate students in the Nautical Archaeology Program (NAP) a thorough introduction to the history and theoretical basics of nautical archaeology as a discipline, to fundamental concepts in nautical science relevant to the study of the history of seafaring, and to expose them to key developments in the history of ancient seafaring. These will be investigated via (A) the development of seafaring from the earliest periods until early modern times, (B) the evidence of ancient shipwrecks and harbors, cargoes and crews, and (C) the design, construction and depiction of boats and ships. The course draws upon a wide array of evidence from archaeological sites (mostly in the Mediterranean and northern Europe), as well as naval and archaeological terminology. As there is no textbook for this course regular attendance is essential for success in this course.

Course Objectives

At the semester’s end students will be expected to (A) demonstrate familiarity with the fundamental concepts, techniques, and challenges of nautical archaeology, (B) evaluate the types of evidence that inform the history of seafaring, (C) identify the cultural phases and geographical setting of ancient and early modern seafaring, and (D) properly utilize relevant naval and archaeological terminology.

Course Structure:

Most but not all of the subjects covered in class lectures may be found in the resource materials and basic readings. Therefore, regular attendance is highly recommended. The format of this course is based upon weekly lectures, illustrated with digital images. There will be two examinations and one non-cumulative final examination. The examinations will consist of two sections, the first requiring short identification answers, and the second consisting of two essay questions. As the semester progresses, material will build upon and draw from terminology and content presented in earlier lectures.

Textbook and/or Resource Materials

The basic readings below for this course will be on reserve in the Nautical Archaeology Program Library: Most of these books are also available in Evans Library.

Bass, George F. 2005. Beneath the Seven Seas. Adventures with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. London: Thames & Hudson.
______. 1972. A History of Seafaring Based on Underwater Archaeology. London: Thames and Hudson.
Bowens, Amanda (ed.). 2009. Underwater Archaeology. The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice. Second edition. Portsmouth: The Nautical Archaeology Society.
Catsambis, Alexis, Ben Ford, and Donny L. Hamilton. 2011. The Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Crumlin-Pedersen, Ole. 2010. Archaeology and the Sea in Scandinavia and Britain. Roskilde: The Viking Ships Museum.
______. 1997. Viking-age Ships and Shipbuilding. Roskilde: Viking Ship Museum.
Delgado, James. 1997. Encyclopedia of Underwater and Maritime Archaeology. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Illsley, J.S. 1996. An Indexed Bibliography of Underwater Archaeology and Related Topics. International Maritime Archaeology Series, Vol. III. Towbridge: University of Oxford.
Muckelroy, K. 1980. Archaeology Under Water. An Atlas of the World’s Submerged Sites. New York and London.
Johnstone, Paul. 1980. The Sea-craft of Prehistory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Throckmorton, Peter. 1987. The Sea Remembers, Shipwrecks and Archaeology from Homer’s Greece to the Rediscovery of the Titanic. New York Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
Wachsmann, Shelley. 1998. Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant. College Station: Texas A&M University.

Grading Policy

The grading for the course is based on two mid-term examinations and a final examination, each of which will count for a third of the final grade. The final examination is not cumulative. Students are responsible for being prepared for each examination. Extra credit assignments will NOT be offered. Absence from examination will be accepted for students who have legitimate excuses as defined in the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Handbook for Student Rules (https://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule07). These include:

Participation in an activity appearing in the University’s Authorized Activity List
Proof of confinement due to illness (medical slip)
Death of a student’s immediate family member
Participation in legal proceedings that require a student’s presence
A religious holiday (defined as a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20 of the Texas Tax Code).

Make-up exams will be offered only for legitimate excuses as listed in TAMU’s Student Rules. If an absence is excused, the student will be given the opportunity to make up the exam at a time and date scheduled in advance. A student who has a legitimate university-excused absence is not relieved of the responsibility of notification and documentation. Falsification of documentation is a violation of the Aggie Honor Code. There will be no opportunities to earn extra credit.

Grading is as follows:
90 to 100 = A
80 to 89 = B 70 to 79 = C
60 to 69 = D
59 and below = F

ALL COURSES

Policies and Statements

Full list of Policies and Statements TAMU
Students Rules

Course Schedule

(The schedule is a subject to change, revisions, and refinements which will be posted)

Week 1	Introduction The Basics: Survey, mapping, and excavation
Ships and Seafaring in the Bronze Age Mediterranean
Week 2	The Basics: Conservation, reconstruction, and analysis Earliest seafarers, Pre-dynastic Egyptian ships and seafaring
Week 3	Ancient Egypt: Khufu’s barge, Abydos, Dashur and Lisht boats Hatshepsut’s Voyage to Punt, Mersa Gawasis
Week 4	Bronze-Age Mediterranean ships and seafaring, Thera Frescoes Late Bronze Age shipwrecks: Cape Gelidonya and Uluburun
Week 5	The Uluburun shipwreck (continued)
Ships and Seafaring during the Greek Archaic and Classical Periods
Week 6	EXAMINATION #1 Archaic Greek Ships: Bon Porté, Giglio and Porticello Classical Greek Ships: Ma’agan Michael and Kyrenia
Week 7	Classical Greek Ships (continued) Early Mediterranean warships Greek Warships: Triremes and Polyremes, ancient anchors
Roman Ships and Seafaring
Week 8	Roman harbors, Roman merchantmen Roman Merchantmen: Madrague de Giens and L’Anse des Laurons 2, Merchant galley at Pisa
Early Medieval Ships and Seafaring in the Mediterranean
Week 9	Byzantine ships and shipwrecks The Yassıada 7th-century shipwreck
Late Medieval Ships and Seafaring in the Mediterranean
Week 10	Middle-Late Byzantine shipwrecks The Serçe Limanı shipwreck
Week 11	EXAMINATION #2 The Theosodian Harbor (Yenikapı) Shipwrecks
Scandinavian and Early Medieval Ships and Seafaring in Northern Europe
Week 12	Ship Burials of Northern Europe Early Viking ships; Kvalsund, Oseberg, Gokstadt
Week 13	The Skuldelev Viking shipwrecks Cogs and Hulks
Late Medieval Ships and Seafaring in Northern Europe and Mediterranean
Week 14	Roman and late medieval warships Late medieval ships and carracks, Mary Rose
FINAL EXAMINATION