The Poole Iron Age Logboat

The Poole Iron Age logboat, one of the largest prehistoric watercraft to survive in Britain, is today imposingly displayed in the entrance to Poole Museum in Dorset. But the vessel faced a difficult journey from its first discovery to the amazing artefact we can now see. Recovered from Poole Harbour in 1964, it is impossible to overestimate the international significance of this vessel. But until now, the vessel had never been fully recorded and very little was known about it – except that it was large. Its size and shape, which would have meant it was inherently unstable, suggest it was designed for use in Poole Harbour. This book is the culmination of significant multi-disciplinary work carried out by a variety of specialists, from conservators to woodworking and boatbuilding experts, exploring not only the craft's history but also its functionality – or lack of – as a vessel. Digital recording, using the latest technology, has made it possible to test its capabilities. For the first time, prehistorians, nautical archaeologists and lay people alike can understand the story of one of Britain's oldest boats—the archaeological and historical background, the environmental context, the timber and ship science, and the challenges of conserving such an important vessel.