Texas A&M University Press Books   - Studies in Nautical Archaeology

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List of Books Available

Homeric Seafaring | The Pepper Wreck | The Philosophy of Shipbuilding | Serçe Limanı | The Western River Steamboat | Those Vulgar Tubes | Ships' Bilge Pumps | The Development of the Rudder | From Egypt to Mesopotamia | The Art and Archaeology of  Venetian Ships and Boats | The Gondola Philadelphia and the Battle of Lake Champlain| | Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant | Wooden Ship Building and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks | The Athlit Ram | The Porticello Shipwreck | Yassi Ada

All listed prices do not include any applicable shipping/handling fees or sales tax(TX residents only).

ED RACHAL FOUNDATION NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SERIES (A&M)

Homeric Seafaring
by Samuel Mark

In this history of Homer's references to ships and seafaring, author Samuel Mark reveals patterns in the way that Greeks built ships and approached the sea between 850 and 750 B.C. In discussing and clarifying the terms used by Homer, Mark refers to scholarly literature as well as examples from recent excavations of ancient shipwrecks.

In Homeric Seafaring, in which the subjects are partly historical, partly archaeological, and partly myth and legend, Mark reaches several tentative, but nonetheless surprising, conclusions: that in an agricultural society, seafaring was a common activity, even among the nobles; that hugging the coast could be more treacherous than sailing across open sea; that Homeric ships were built mainly to be sailed, instead of rowed; that sea battles were relatively common; that helmsmen were crucial to a safe voyage; and that harbors were little more than natural anchorages. Mark's discussion of Homer's geography covers theories that posit Odysseus sailing in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas and on the Atlantic Ocean.

This comprehensive and meticulous study of Homer's references to ships and seafaring is sure to become a standard study on the subject.

SAMUEL MARK holds a Ph.D. in nautical archaeology. He currently teaches anthropology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. He is the author of From Egypt to Mesopotamia: A Study of Predynastic Trade Routes, also published by Texas A&M University Press.

Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series

Price: $60.00

INA Members Price: $42.00

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The Pepper Wreck

A Portuguese Indiaman at the Mouth of the Tagus River

The Philosophy of Shipbuilding

Conceptual Approaches to the Study of Wooden Ships
Edited by Frederick M. Hocker and Cheryl A. Ward
Foreword by George F. Bass

Ships were the most complex constructions of any society until just before the Industrial Revolution.

Here, experts in the field present the latest information from nautical archaeological excavations and explore the conceptual basis for shipbuilding traditions. The authors discuss the earliest plank-built ships of ancient Egypt, the mortise-and-tenon joined hulls of the ancient Mediterranean, and lapstrake construction in northern Europe, as well as the research methodology used to study such ships.

Contributors examine construction methods and the problems of change and adaptation to shipbuilding, as well as a wide range of ancient boat models and evidence contained in Egyptian papyri. In a final chapter, they examine finds in Lake Champlain to shed light on the way shipbuilding reflects the maritime environment.

FREDERICK M. HOCKER, who lives in Sweden, is currently working at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
CHERYL A. WARD lives in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is a professor of anthropology at Florida State University.

Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series, in Association with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology

Price: $75.00

INA Members Price: $52.50

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The Western River Steamboat
by Adam I. Kane
Foreword by Alan L. Bates

The first Western steamboat was built in 1811 in Pittsburgh, and thousands more were constructed in the years before the Civil War. These waterborne vehicles helped define the nineteenth- century trans-Appalachian West. Decades of incremental changes created a distinctive watercraft, and the steamboat became perfectly suited to the conditions of the Western rivers, transforming the West from a wilderness into a place of economic significance.

In The Western River Steamboat, nautical archaeologist Adam I. Kane traces the development of this once commonplace vessel. Kane describes the importance and impact of the steamboat in American history and complements his historical analysis with clear, concise technical explanations of the construction and evolution of Western river steamboats.

Using photographs, drawings, and charts to help readers visualize the early steamboats and the study of their remains by archaeologists, Kane explains how the rivers dictated the design of the hull, why stern wheels replaced side wheels, how hogging chains kept hulls from buckling, and why safety valves were of little use when engineers regularly overloaded them.

Anyone intrigued by the vessel that changed America's West, in addition to those studying historical or nautical archaeology, maritime history, or cultural resource management, will find this book of interest.

ADAM I. KANE lives in New Haven, Vermont, and works as a nautical archaeologist at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. He holds a master's degree in anthropology from Texas A&M University and has done extensive fieldwork at archaeological sites throughout the United States.

Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series, in Association with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology

What people are saying about this book:
"With a combination of thorough research and archaeological analysis Kane provides both archaeologists and historians with an amazing new research tool reference manual that no steamboat researcher will be able to do without." -Annalies Corbin, East Carolina University

cloth, $39.95s

paper, $19.95

INA Members Prices: $27.97 cloth; $13.97 paper

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Back in print
Those Vulgar Tubes
External Sanitary Accommodations aboard European Ships of the Fifteenth through Seventeenth Centuries
by Joe J. Simmons III

The disposal of human waste is critical, especially where humans are in close quarters. As Joe J. Simmons III shows in this redesigned volume, information about this vital function on ships of the great era of sail is amazingly scarce.  In Those Vulgar Tubes, Simmons has collected and interpreted the available archaeological and iconographical evidence, providing historians and anthropologists with a rich view of a historically censored subject.  In his introduction, Simmons discusses evidence of what methods early sailors used for relief.  Subsequent chapters focus on each century of pre-modern exploration and the developments of ship design at bow and stern where sailors were accommodated.  Officers had the luxury of enclosed, closet-like facilities; the book's title comes from a poem in which the ship's chaplain begs to be allowed to use the officers' luxurious facilities rather than the "vulgar tubes" - the downward-projecting trunking through which effluvia was directed into the sea. With clear illustrations and a timeline that graphs the development of sanitary facilities, Those Vulgar Tubes fills a longstanding void in the history of maritime travel.

JOE J. SIMMONS III earned his M.A. in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University.  From 1975 to 1994 he served in numerous capacities on nautical archaeology projects.

Number One: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
Those Vulgar Tubes, 0-89096-788-1 paper
6x9. 112 pp. 45 b&w figs. Bib. Index.
Nautical Archaeology. Maritime History.
U.S. and world rights, except UK and Europe.
Publication Date: December 1997.

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Ships' Bilge Pumps
A History of Their Development, 1500–1900
by Thomas J. Oertling

All wooden ships leak, a stark fact that has terrified sailors since the earliest days of ocean travel.  Maritime historical literature is filled with horrific descriptions of being aboard a slowly sinking ship.  Starting from this human perspective, Thomas J. Oertling traces the five-hundred-year evolution of a seemingly mundane but obviously important piece of seafaring equipment in this one-of-a-kind history.  Beginning with early sixteenth-century documents that recorded bilge pump design and installation and ending late in the nineteenth century, when bilge pumps were being mass-produced, Oertling covers a period of radical technological change.  He describes the process of making long wooden pump tubes by hand, as well as the assembly of the machine-crafted pumps that helped revolutionize ship construction and design.  Also given in detail are the creation, function, and development of all three types of pumps used from about 1500 to well into the nineteenth century: the burr pump, the suction or common pump, and the chain pump. Of further interest is Oertling's overall examination of the nature and management of leaks in ships' hulls.  Line drawings and photographs illustrate the text.

THOMAS J. OERTLING of Galveston received a B.S. from Tulane University and an M.A. in anthropology with a specialization in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University. One of the field's recognized experts on ships' pumps, he has done extensive work in ship reconstruction and has published numerous articles.

Number Two: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
Ships' Bilge Pumps, ISBN 0-89096-722-9 paper
LC 96-21939. 6x9. 130 pp. 39 b&w photos.
23 line drawings. Bib. Index.
Nautical Archaeology. Maritime History.
World rights exclusive of the United Kingdom and Europe
Publication Date: October 1996.

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The Development of the Rudder
A Technological Tale
by Lawrence V. Mott

Far exceeding anything ever before written on the subject, The Development of the Rudder endeavors to unravel the mysteries of the evolution of a vital piece of seafaring equipment. And in the process, author Lawrence V. Mott answers far-reaching questions on why some technologies develop and endure, while others are soon replaced.   In this first considered historical overview of the rudder, Mott begins his examination in the Roman period and from there traces rudder development through the middle centuries to the age of exploratory navigation.  Before the twelfth century in northern Europe, ships were steered by a quarter-rudder mounted on the stern side of the vessel. The use of the quarter-rudder persisted up until the fourteenth century in the Mediterranean.  There, two quarter-mounted steering oars were used.  By the age of exploration, the quarter-rudder had been replaced by the pintle-and-gudgeon rudder, hung from the sternpost.  Throughout, Mott offers a thorough analysis of the mechanics of these rudder systems while never losing sight of the human interest that attends the radical changes brought on by innovation.

LAWRENCE V. MOTT of Minneapolis, Minnesota, earned an M.A. in anthropology with a specialization in nautical archaeology from Texas A&M University. He has performed extensive studies on shipwrecks and medieval shipbuilding and published numerous articles on the subject.

Number Three: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
The Development of the Rudder, ISBN 0-89096-723-7 paper
LC 96-8051. 6x9. 240 pp. 44 b&w photos. 53 line drawings.
4 tables. 4 charts. 3 apps. Gloss. Bib. Index.
Nautical Archaeology. Maritime History.
World rights exclusive of the United Kingdom and Europe.
Publication Date: January 1997.

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From Egypt to Mesopotamia
A Study of Predynastic Trade Routes
by Samuel Mark

In Near Eastern studies, many have long believed that predynastic trade routes connected Egypt and Mesopotamia. Belief in the existence of such trade routes, however, has until recently  been based largely upon the two regions' shared influences rather than on archaeological evidence.  In From Egypt to Mesopotamia, Samuel Mark ferrets out the two possible trade routes between these vastly different cultures. An analysis of artifacts and raw materials allows Mark to delineate avenues of trade between Egypt and Mesopotamia.  Taking to task previous studies that describe the Egypt-Mesopotamia trade connection as being one between two homogeneous cultures, Mark focuses on the variety of cultural differences, rather than their similarities, to map the infusion of these cultures. Scholars, students, and nautical archeology and egyptology enthusiasts will appreciate this probing, fascinating trek through sea, sand, and time, unfolding the development of trade routes in the East.

SAMUEL MARK is pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology at Texas A&M University. He has performed extensive fieldwork at shipwreck excavation sites and has contributed to the study of Homeric ship construction.

Number Four: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
From Egypt to Mesopotamia, 0-89096-777-6 cloth
LC 97-21879. 6x9. 200 pp. 1 b&w photo. 43 line drawings. 14 maps. 2 tables. Bib. Index.
Anthropology. Archaeology. Classical Studies.
Publication Date: November 1997.

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Foreword by Marco Bonino

Throughout its existence as a bustling center of seafaring and trade, Venice has loomed large in maritime history. Its location, governmental policies, and the skills of its citizens made Venice a dominant military power and a major player in international trade by the Middle Ages. Yet little is known of what made that military and trade prowess possible - the early seagoing vessels of Venice. Remains of its ships and boats are few, and written records are rare. Excavations in the region have revealed only a few small boats, two merchant ships, and a galley, yet this limited sample of the ships and boats of Venice offers a base on which to build. Artistic representations provide distinctive clues to the past that are not available elsewhere. Drawing on material from several disciplines, The Art and Archaeology of Venetian Ships and Boats combines lively discussions of art and history with scientific scholarship. Here, nautical archaeologist Lillian Ray Martin has collected representations of ships and boats in medieval and early Renaissance art from museums, churches, libraries, and public buildings of Venice and the surrounding region. After outlining her method of study, Martin presents a brief history of Venetian art, inextricably linked to the history of the area, and then carefully catalogues each known piece of Venetian art that depicts watercraft. She includes such information as the title, artist, date, location, types of watercraft shown, and a comprehensive description of each piece.

Martin combines archaeological, documentary, and iconographic evidence to paint a more accurate picture of Venetian watercraft, making The Art and Archaeology of Venetian Ships and Boats the most complete compilation of the sources available today. More than 150 illustrations, including representations from paintings, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, engravings, manuscript illuminations, and more, enhance the book.

The Art and Archaeology of Venetian Ships and Boats reveals important facts about the construction, rigging, and sailing of Venetian watercraft, shedding new light on the history of Venetian seafaring and the resulting economic and political relations Venice had with the Byzantine and European worlds.

LILLIAN RAY MARTIN, who has a degree in art history and European studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, earned her master's degree in nautical archaeology at Texas A&M University. She has worked as an archaeologist and photographer at many underwater and land excavations since 1981, including the Bronze Age shipwreck at Uluburun, Turkey, as well as sites in the Dominican Republic, Holland, Greece, Cyprus, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Number Five: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
The Art and Archaeology of Venetian Ships and Boats. 1-58544-098-1 cloth $77.50s
World rights exclusive of the United Kingdom and Europe LC 00-011472. 8x11. 248 pp. 106 b&w photos. 52 line drawings. 7 tables. Bib. Index. Appendix.  Nautical Archaeology. European Culture and Art.
Publication Date: MAY 2001.

Price $77.50
INA Members Price: $54.25

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The Gondola Philadelphia and the Battle of Lake Champlain
byJohn R. Bratten

A veteran of the American Revolutionary War, the Philadelphia is the oldest intact warship on display in North America. After its recovery from the bottom of Lake Champlain in 1935, the fifty-four foot long vessel, armed with three cannon and eight swivel guns, was moved to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. The Philadelphia testifies to the heroic struggle between a hastily built fleet of American warships and an overwhelmingly superior British fleet on Lake Champlain in 1776. Although the Americans were defeated and the Philadelphia was sunk, the shipbuilding race and naval contest of which the gondola was a part delayed the British invasion, giving the Americans time to muster a defense that resulted in the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777.

In this work, John R. Bratten details the gunboat's history, construction, armament, tools, utensils, personal items, and rigging elements. Through his careful analysis, Bratten offers modern readers a glimpse of the naval battles that ultimately helped to win the independence of our democratic nation.

JOHN R. BRATTEN is a nautical archaeologist and conservator at the Archaeology Institute of the University of West Florida. He lives in Pace, Florida.

Number Six: Studies in Nautical Archaeology
The Gondola Philadelphia and the Battle of Lake Champlain
1-58544-147-3 cloth $34.95
LC 2001005630.  6 1/8x9 1/4. 256 pp. 6 tables.16 line drawings.90 b&w photos. 3 maps.Bib. Index. Appendix.
Nautical Archaeology. Naval History. American History. Revolutionary War.
Publication Date: May 2002

Price $34.95
INA Members Price: $24.47

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Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant
by Shelley Wachsmann

During the Bronze Age, the ancient societies that ringed the Mediterranean, once mostly separate and isolated, began to reach across the great expanse of sea to conduct trade, marking an age of immense cultural growth and technological development. These intersocietal lines of communication and paths for commerce relied on rigorous open-water travel.  And, as a potential superhighway, the Mediterranean demanded much in the way of seafaring knowledge and innovative ship design if it was to be successfully navigated.   In Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant Shelley Wachsmann presents a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive examination of how the early eastern Mediterranean cultures took to the sea - and how they evolved as a result. The author surveys the blue-water ships of the Egyptians, Syro-Canaanites, Cypriots, Early Bronze Age Aegeans, Minoans, Mycenaeans, and Sea Peoples and discusses known Bronze Age shipwrecks. Relying on archaeological, ethnological, iconographic, and textual evidence, Wachsmann delivers a fascinating and intricate rendering of virtually every aspect of early sea travel - from ship construction and propulsion to war on the open water, piracy, and laws pertaining to conduct at sea.  This broad study is further enhanced by contributions from other renowned scholars. J. Hoftijzer and W. H. van Soldt offer new and illuminating translations of Ugaritic and Akkadian documents that refer to seafaring.  John R. Lenz delves into the Homeric Greek lexicon to search out possible references to the birdlike shapes that adorned early ships’ stem and stern.  Frederick Hocker provides a useful appendix and glossary of nautical terms, and George F. Bass’s foreword frames the study’s scholarly significance and discusses its place in the nautical archaeological canon.  This book brings together for the first time the entire corpus of evidence pertaining to Bronze Age seafaring and will be of special value to archaeologists, maritime historians, philologists, and Bronze Age textual scholars. Offering an abundance of line drawings and photographs and written in a style that makes the material easily accessible to the layperson, Wachsmann’s study is certain to become a standard reference for anyone interested in the dawn of sea travel.

SHELLEY WACHSMANN is Meadows Assistant Professor of Biblical Archaeology at the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, Texas A&M University. He is the author of several books on ancient seafaring and trade, including The Sea of Galilee Boat, and has published numerous articles in archaeological journals.

Seagoing Ships and Seamanship in the Bronze Age Levant, ISBN 0-89096-709-1 cloth
LC 96-49815. 8 1/2x11. 448 pp. 170 b&w photos.
509 line drawings. 5 apps. Bib. Index.
Classical Studies. Nautical Archaeology.
Publication Date: September 1997.

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Wooden Ship Building and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks
by J. Richard Steffy

This book is a guide to the study of the most marvelous structures ever built by humankind - wooden ships and boats.  It is intended for nautical archaeologists and for anyone charged with documenting and interpreting the remains of wrecked or abandoned vessels.  It will also be of value to historians, authors, model builders, and others interested in the design and construction of wooden watercraft of the past.  Wooden Shipbuilding and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks represents a comprehensive survey of shipbuilding technology throughout human history and is one of the best treatments of this subject ever produced.

J. RICHARD STEFFY is the Sara W. and George O. Yamini Professor of Nautical Archaeology, emeritus, at Texas A&M University and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.  He has been involved in numerous shipwreck excavations in Europe, Asia, and North America.  In recognition of his many contributions to the field of Nautical Archaeology, he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship in 1985.

Wooden Ship Building and the Interpretation of Shipwrecks, ISBN 0-89096-552-8
LC 93-30036. 9x12. 328 pp. 63 b&w photos.
219 line drawings. 6 tables. Gloss. 3 apps. Bib. Index.
Maritime Studies. Nautical Archaeology.
Publication Date: June 1994.

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Also Available:

	The Athlit Ram by  L. Casson and J. R. Steffy 0-89096-451-3. Price: $75.00 INA Members Price: $52.50		The Porticello Shipwreck by C. J. Eiseman and B. S. Ridgway       0-89096-244-8. Price: $75.00 INA Members Price: $52.50		Yassi Ada by G. F. Bass and  F. H. van Doorninck, Jr., et al. 0-89096-063-1. Price: $89.50 INA Members Price: $62.65

To order any of these books, please click in each title and remember enter code 'INA'at the prompt to receive the 30% INA discount.