Italian archaeologists from the Museum of Civilization in Rome have discovered the oldest canoes ever found in the Mediterranean Sea. The remains of the boats were found at the bottom of La Marmotte, a prehistoric coastal settlement that is now completely submerged. The study was published in the scientific journal PLOS One.
Experts found five canoes constructed from alder, oak, poplar, and European beech. Radiocarbon dating showed that the watercraft were made between 5700 and 5100 years BCE during the Neolithic period.
According to scientists, the boats were used for fishing and transporting goods.
The two largest canoes were almost 11 meters long and had a width of 1.2 meters. Specialists believe these were merchant ships, as they could easily reach the Tyrrhenian coast through the Arrone River.
The smaller watercraft were likely owned by fishermen.
Archaeologists discovered that Stone Age boat builders were familiar with some advanced technologies. For example, they used transverse reinforcement of the hulls, which increased the durability of the boats.