Seascapes and Landscapes-the Siting of the Ferriby Boat Finds in the Context of Prehistoric Pilotage

Abstract

The foreshore of North Ferriby, within the Humber estuary, is the site of the earliest sewn plank boats known outside Egypt. Despite a large corpus of research relating to their construction and function, there has, as yet, been no consideration of their location. This paper examines the contemporary environment and sailing conditions of the Humber during the Bronze Age, and assesses pilotage in relation to natural features that might help to explain why North Ferriby was such a significant focus for Bronze Age mariners. © 2005 The Nautical Archaeology Society