Page 25 - TINA Dergi Sayi 09

TINA

Maritime Archaeology Periodical

fig. 16: Tatlısu- Çiftlikdüzü kazılarında bulu-
nan yuvarlak şekilli pikrolit ‘gemi’ betimlemesi,
Kıbrıs. (Fotoğraf: İsmail Gökçe, Çizim: David S.
Neal, Tatlısu Kazı ve Araştırma Projesi Arşivi).
fig. 16: A round-shaped “boat” model in pic-
rolite uncovered during the Tatlısu- Çiftlikdüzü
excavations, Kıbrıs. (Photo by İsmail Gökçe,
Drawing by David S. Neal, Photographic Archive
of the Excavation and Survey Project in Tatlısu).

Although the seafaring vessel depictions that have been similarly built by bending and tying tree branches
been identified in Cyprus belong to the Early Bronze and then covering the vessels with leather, using the
Age, it is worth mentioning several simple boat mod- leather and branch tie technique. With all these findings
els from the Early Neolithic period. Finds made of in mind, we may conjecture that the earliest voyages
picrolite, already known from Shillourokambos and at sea could have been made with small round/ellip-
40
Tatlısu-Çiftlikdüzü settlements, were interpreted for tic vessels consisting of woven frames made of wick-
the first time as model depictions of boats by Guilaine erwork or tree branches, covered by an impermeable
. These were typically smaller than 3 cm, hollow material such as leather, and driven by paddles. The
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on the inside, and decorated by evenly executed hor- fact that the turquoise/lighter shade of blue of picro-
izontal and vertical hatching on the outside (Fig.15, lite mineral resembles the color of the sea may be the
16). It is worth considering that the seafaring vessels reason why this mineral was chosen for the depictions.
depicted here were likely covered with leather, in or- This type of seafaring vessel has been called ‘quaffa’
der to gain insight into the types of sea vessels poten- in Near East, and ‘coracle’ in Europe, and they are still
tially used during the Early Neolithic period. used in various parts of the world (Fig. 17). They may
As Casson also mentioned, the most important represent one of the world’s longest-used vessels. If we
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step in the development of transportation on water assume that the picrolites obtained during the surveys
was building boats capable of keeping both passen- performed at Tatlısu, Shillourokambos, and Kritou Ma-
gers and freight dry. In keeping with the material that 45
was available in their natural environment and the rottou-Ayis Yorkis are depictions of seafaring vessels,
technology that they could use, archaeological data we may argue that the oldest iconographic depictions
suggests that the “leather and branch tie technique” of seafaring vessels belonged to these first trans-Med-
was used for various purposes by the first communi- iterranean communities. Previously, the earliest evi-
ties that settled on the island of Cyprus. Such organ- dence for this type of seafaring vessel could be seen on
ic material could have survived to the present only a relief depicting a boat of wickerwork used by the As-
th
th
under extraordinary conditions. While the wattle syrians between 8 – 7 centuries, which is currently
43
and daub technique was used in the construction of on display in the British Museum. In addition, around
dwellings at Tatlısu-Çiftlikdüzü and Shillourokambo, 450 BCE, the historian Herodotus included in his book,
the use of leather from animals such as deers, goats, “The Histories,” an interesting segment on quaffa and
and sheep is indicated by the presence of leathercraft its use for commercial purposes during voyages be-
tools, such as numerous scrapers, borers, and pins tween Armenia and Babylon. At this point, we believe
44
found, for instance, at Tatlısu-Çiflikdüzü. Taking this the following excerpt can be as much applicable to
into account, the frames of seafaring vessels might have the prehistoric periods as it is interesting:
40 It is usually a turquoise or light blue stone found in
Trodos Mountains in Cyprus, and its hardness allows it to be 45 RUpp 1987, 33, fig. 2.5.
easily processed. It was widely used in production of figurines
It is usually a turquoise or light blue stone found in Trodos Mountains in Cyprus, and its hardness allows it to be easily processed.
40
42
41
43 CASSON, 2002, 3.
during the Chalcolithic Period in Cyprus.
GUILAINE 2011;1205.
It was widely used in production of figurines during the Chalcolithic Period in Cyprus.
In conditions such as freezing or staying under the
44 GUILAINE 2011;1205.
water. Fresh water obsidian and flintstone industry is being
41
studied by Dr. Nurcan Kayacan since 2017.
CASSON, 2002, 3.
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43 In conditions such as freezing or staying under the water.
44 Tatlısu obsidian and chipped stone industry is being studied by Dr. Nurcan Kayacan since 2017.
45 RUpp 1987, 33, Fig. 2.5.
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