The remains of a medieval wooden hull were exposed in September 2012 near the town of Precenicco (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy), during engineering works a few meters from the banks of the Stella river. The Precenicco Shipwreck, dated to the 11th–13th century AD by C14 analysis, has a flat bottom without a keel, but presents curved sides and a smooth turn of the bilge, atypical of riverboats. Moreover, the presence of a mast step placed exactly in the middle of its length suggests that it was used beyond the River Stella, into the nearby lagoon system. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this shipwreck is its internal structure, with alternating L-shaped floor timbers and only one first futtock per frame. Although similar framing patterns were observed in the remains of the Yenikapi 12 and Serce Limani hulls, no parallel has been found on a vessel used for inland navigation.
The Precenicco Shipwreck. An 11th–13th-century vessel from the River Stella
Massimo Capulli
2017-01-01
Abstract
The remains of a medieval wooden hull were exposed in September 2012 near the town of Precenicco (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy), during engineering works a few meters from the banks of the Stella river. The Precenicco Shipwreck, dated to the 11th–13th century AD by C14 analysis, has a flat bottom without a keel, but presents curved sides and a smooth turn of the bilge, atypical of riverboats. Moreover, the presence of a mast step placed exactly in the middle of its length suggests that it was used beyond the River Stella, into the nearby lagoon system. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this shipwreck is its internal structure, with alternating L-shaped floor timbers and only one first futtock per frame. Although similar framing patterns were observed in the remains of the Yenikapi 12 and Serce Limani hulls, no parallel has been found on a vessel used for inland navigation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
