In June of 2022 INRAP (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research) began excavating the remains of a boat discovered south of Bordeaux, on the Garonne river. Based on the size (about fifty by twenty feet), construction (crude but sturdy), and location (abandoned in a creek that emptied into a navigable river), it is most probably a seventh or eighth century riverine cargo vessel. While that may sound mundane, this is a major find! Most of our water-borne archaeological record is of warships like the Sutton Hoo vessel – sleek, polished, fit for a king.
The Garonne ship is, most assuredly, not sleek or polished. Take a look at the overview picture, below. And while you’re taking it all in, let’s get some terminology out of the way.