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Boats and Ships of the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman Within an Archaeological, Historical and Ethnographic Context

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The Arabian Seas: Biodiversity, Environmental Challenges and Conservation Measures

Abstract

This chapter presents a comparative analysis and synthesis of all the relevant evidence of watercraft in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Historical, archaeological, iconographic and ethnographic data are examined with the aim to provide a picture of the maritime technology in the region that stretches from the Neolithic to recent times, over a period of 7500 years. The study of this evidence reveals the variety of types of watercraft, the traits of their development and the ingenuity of the boatbuilders of this region, but also highlights the continuity with the past, indicated by the persistence of boatbuilding features and methodologies over a vast span of time. Lastly, the chapter describes the different types of traditional vessels that sailed in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman until recent times.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Alessandro Ghidoni

  2. Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Tom Vosmer

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  1. Alessandro Ghidoni
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  2. Tom Vosmer
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  1. Auckland, New Zealand

    Laith A. Jawad

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Ghidoni, A., Vosmer, T. (2021). Boats and Ships of the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman Within an Archaeological, Historical and Ethnographic Context. In: Jawad, L.A. (eds) The Arabian Seas: Biodiversity, Environmental Challenges and Conservation Measures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51506-5_43

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