Canoe Marmotta 1 on display in the Museo delle Civilta in Rome.
(Photo:Gibaja et al.)
Have you heard of La Marmotta?
Canoe Marmotta 1 on display in the Museo delle Civiltà in Rome. (Photo:Gibaja et al.)
La Marmotta lies under Lake Bracciano which connects 23 miles of winding rivers to the Mediterranean sea.
Countless exceptionally well-preserved remnants of ancient life have been documented since its discovery decades ago.
Wooden buildings (some with wooden floors) populate the area.
Excavating Canoe 5. (Photo:Gibaja et al.)
The specific conditions of the water have preserved such organic material from bacteria.
Pottery, plants, and basketry have all been discovered.
Scattered among the houses were the canoes, created from single tree trunks using fire and manpower.
Canoe 3. (Photo:Gibaja et al.)
Two are of alder, one of oak, one of poplar, and one of beech.
According to the researchers, The Quercus [oak] timber is characterized by considerable density and weight.
It would provide tough wood and resistant to decay and available in different lengths and diameters.
Canoe 2. (Photo:Gibaja et al.)
They turned out to be the oldest known Neolithic boats.
At this time, Neolithic humans were settling internal Italy, using canoes for trade and transport.
These boats also demonstrate the impressive long-term trade of the region.
A piece of Canoe 1’s construction. (Photo:Gibaja et al.)
(Photo:Gibaja et al.)
(Photo:Gibaja et al.)
Well-preserved and well-crafted, these boats are re-writing nautical history.
(Photo:Gibaja et al.)
A piece of Canoe 1’s construction.
(Photo:Gibaja et al.)
