Monday, March 06, 2006

More re Wadi Gawasis

There have been quite a few follow-up pieces describing this project, but this one provides a really good summary: "Cheryl Ward of Florida State University offers this write-up of her findings in an exclusive to USA TODAY. Ship timbers from a mothballed Middle Kingdom industrial shipyard at Wadi Gawasis in Egypt provide the most ancient direct evidence for seafaring in complex watercraft anywhere in the world. In addition to marine incrustations and destruction by marine mollusks (shipworms), the technology and dimensions of hull components are consistent with what is expected of seagoing ships in the Middle Kingdom and offer unique testimony to the organization and achievement of the ancient Egyptian's sailing expeditions to Africa."
Photos accompanying the article are at:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gallery/2006/03/egyptsnapshot/flash.htm

Another summary of the find is on The Times, dated today, is at

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