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Technological continuity and change: the lateen sail of the medieval Mediterranean
No full textMaritime connectivity in the medieval Mediterranean, highlighted by a number of scholars, acknowledges the importance of maritime technology. A detailed understanding of the use and development of watercraft permitting trans-Mediterranean trade, exchange and cultural interaction is still often lacking. The lateen sail provided the main form of propulsion to Mediterranean sail-powered ships for the majority of the medieval period. Yet, its origins, development and potential performance has, until recently remained poorly understood. Clear iconographic depictions outline the basic chronology surrounding the adoption of the lateen sail allowing the main rigging components of the Mediterranean lateen rig to be characterised from the late-antiquity onwards. Comparative investigation into the Mediterranean lateen and square-sail allows an appreciation of the relative performance of the two rigs. This allows new theories to be proposed, which explain the invention and adoption of the lateen sail and provide a developed context for its use in the medieval period
The Mediterranean lateen sail in late antiquity
No full textThe Mediterranean lateen sailing rig has been studied since the early-to-mid-20th century. Recently-published depictions of sailing vessels rigged with lateen and settee sails, dating to the late-antique period, allow some of the principle characteristics of that rig to be established. This allows comparison with lateen- or settee-rigged vessels from both earlier and later periods. The sailing rigs depicted on other vessels can be identified and the level of technical continuity between the late-antique and medieval Mediterranean addressed. Finally it is possible to assess the extent to which the lateen sail was established in the Mediterranean by late antiquity
Archaeological survey and monitoring data from the Flower of Ugie, wrecked 1852 in the Eastern Solent, England
No full textThis paper discusses the potential future reuse of the archived dataset resulting from the archaeological survey of the shipwreck remains of the Flower of Ugie, a wooden sailing barque wrecked in the Eastern Solent in 1852. Seven years of archaeological survey are represented in the site plans which record the structural details of the vessel along with many of its material characteristics. This record serves to establish the baseline condition of the site, against which future monitoring of the site will be conducted allowing informed management decisions to be made
Early Islamic maritime technology
No full textIn the ancient and medieval world, watercraft were amongst the most complex items produced by society, often requiring significant levels of investment to build and subsequently maintain. Changes to maritime technology have the potential to inform us about changes to the wider society in which such technology was created and used. This paper explores the extent to which the Arab conquest of the south-eastern Mediterranean in the 7th century AD led to rapid changes in the existing traditions of maritime technology in that region
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