4 replies to this topic

[Nigel]

Does anyone recall piles of stones in boat shapes, but without nails amongst them, being found in NW Europe?
I know log boats and others have been found but I'm interested to know if there were very early curraghs or hide covered ones.

[Robert Henvell]

Have not sighted any archaeological reports on a hide boat-preservation potential is poor.
There are some rock drawings in Scandinavia,which apear [?] to be hide boats.They date to circa 1500bce.Most Scandinavian water craft were made out of wood.

[stonecarver]

Archaeolink, Scottish Prehistory Park... one of the best outdoor centres in the British Isles, is heavily involved with the making of a reconstruction of a prehistoric hide-covered boat (the biggest so-far attempted in Europe), and there are plans to sail it (or paddle, actually) between Aberdeenshire and Orkney.

Their great site is at :-

http://www.archaeolink.co.uk/

And it's a really good place to visit if you are in Scotland....  

[mort]

the only place i think ive ever seen stones layed out as ships hulls is in julian cope's book, megalithic european.
i think its in the denmark and swedish section. they look like ships, but are rings of stones placed in a lozenge shape in most instances.

ive seen others elsewhere that look like ships, not sure where, could be norway as well.

hope this helps a bit in what your looking for.

[Diego]

Regarding the ancient monuments with stones set in the layout of a ship, we suggest to have a look at these websites (in-depth info, drawings and photos):

• Ale's Stones - Info on one of Sweden's best preserved ship-shaped stone circles
  
• Ales Stenar - Detailed info on Sweden's most famous "stone ship" consisting of of 58 standing stones and one horizontal block. The site measures 67 metres long by 19 metres across. Information for tourists and travelers by Ystad Tourist Council
  
• Stone circles and stone ships
  
• Mound, Ale's Stones, stone ship

Hope this helps!