Page 23 - TINA Dergi Sayi 09

TINA

Maritime Archaeology Periodical

As mentioned above, the first settled communities most dependable findings related to seafaring vessels in
in the northern part of Cyprus preferred the coastal Cypriot archaeology consist of iconography and ter-
areas of the region. This must have been related to the racotta models. Such artifacts ranging from the Early
fact that they were seafarers, and they probably had Bronze to Iron Ages are widely observed at archaeo-
strong ties and communication with other communi- logical sites in Cyprus and provide invaluable infor-
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ties on the Anatolian shores. During the periods when mation on contemporary seafaring vessels. A known
humidity is at its lowest, the Toros and Beşparmak boat depiction from Cyprus illustrated on an oval
Mountains can be clearly seen from both the south- bodied terracotta artefact portrays eight cheerful peo-
ern coast of Anatolia and the northern coast of Cyprus ple possibly in a row-boat (Fig. 14). It is dated to the
(Fig. 13). The mainland is not visible from the south- Middle Bronze Age (2300-2000 BCE), and currently
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ern coast of Cyprus displayed in the Louvre Museum (AO17521). De-
DePICtIOnS OF SeAFArInG VeSSeLS pictions or graffiti of boats are observed in temples
from the Early Bronze Age, as well as on the walls
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The question of whether the inhabitants of the island and apses of churches from the Medieval period. 34
settled there during an initial exploration, or whether A seafaring vessel from Neolithic period was re-
they planned ahead and settled on an island they had corded by Vigne. Vigne and Cucci suggest that na-
35
already explored, still remains unanswered. Analysis val voyages were probably made with boats or rafts
of this situation, referred to as deliberate or indeliber- driven by wind and sails. Theories about possible
36
ate “colonization,” will provide further insight. Sea- sea voyages during the Early Neolithic were also
faring vessels, which also helped them transport their studied by Vigne and Zazzo. On the other hand, the
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animals and objects, probably made the greatest con- natural resources of the environment and preserved
tribution to the discovery of the island of Cyprus and archaeological information suggest that most ancient
the beginning of settled life here by humans. Without seafaring vessels in the Mediterranean were probably
seafaring vessels, humans could neither have come to dugout boat or bundle reed type vessels. Two of the
the island nor could they have transported animals, most ancient examples of such vessels include a boat
as argued by Vigne and Cucci. For this reason, it is that was found underneath Lake Bracciano in Italy at
30
worth noting studies and hypotheses about Cyprus La Marmota, a Neolithic period settlement that has
and early seafaring activities. been dated to 7,000 BP, and the remains of a dugout
38
Primitive seafaring vessels that were built using or- boat dating to 8,000 BP that was found in Lake De-
ganic materials rarely survive into the present day. The spilio in Thessaly, Greece. 39
30 VIGNE-CUCCI 2005.
30 VIGNE-CUCCI 2005. 36 FUGAZZOLA vd. 1993.
31
37
33
32
34
35
38
39
VIGNE 2009, 817, Fig. 7.
KArAGEOrGHIS 2006, Fig. 39.CHA vd. 2017.
WESTErBErG 1983.
VIGNE -CUCCI, 2005, 188.
BASCH 1981
SEVKETOGLU 2017; DEMESTI
VIGNE-ZAZZO, 2014.
MArANGOU 2003
31 WESTErBErG 1983.
32 KArAGEOrGHIS 2006, Fig. 39.
33 BASCH 1981.
34 SEVKETOGLU 2017; DEMESTICHA et al. 2017.
35 VIGNE 2009, 817, Fig. 7.
36 VIGNE -CUCCI, 2005, 188.
37 VIGNE-ZAZZO, 2014.
38 FUGAZZOLA et al. 1993.
39 MArANGOU 2003.

fig. 14: Kıbrıs Orta Tunç Çağına ait (MÖ 2000-
1600) pişmiş toprak gemi modeli (Y: 16.70 cm,
U: 26 cm, G: 14.0 cm). (Fotoğraf: Lourve Mü-
zesi, Paris).
fig. 14: A terracotta boat model from the Cyp-
riot Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BCE) (H:
16.70 cm, L: 26 cm, W: 14.0 cm). (Photo by
Louvre Museum, Paris).
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