PKEHllSTOKIC NAVAL AKCHITECTURE. 



541 



pair of boles. Tliis stretclier or thwart was not made of oak, but of 

 some softer wood which fell to pieces when removed. It is evident that 

 by such process the sides of the boat would be better enabled to stand 

 additional external pressure and would be prevented from closing in, 

 while in tlie lashing the stretcher would find a tirm and unyielding 

 su))port against the sides; yet, in the absence of any mast or other in 

 dications that the craft was intended for sailing, it may not seem unrea- 

 sonable to assume that the holes were intended for oar ports and that, 

 judging from analogy with similar structures, the mode of propulsion 

 was by means of oars plied from movable seats lashed to the sides of 

 the shi]>. 



In the angle of junction of the sides and the bottom a i^eculiar re- 

 pair is noticeable which, in making good either a def<'ct iu the oak or a 

 subsequent damage, indicates an advanced knowledge of carpentry 

 (Figs. 35, 30, 37). " 



Fig. :35. 



Fin. 'M. 



Fig. 37. 

 Prehistoric Repair in BRUiO Boat. 



iigs lunushed hy Mr. William Stevenson, of Hull, Knglan.l. ) 



This rei)air is shown by a cleat 6 feet long and 14 inches wide, tap- 

 ered at the ends and fixed to the wound on the starboard side of the 

 boat. The cleat is cut out of a solid piece of Avood, the edges are 

 beveled and bored tlinmgh at distances of about li inches and laced 

 or stit<jhed through the ])oat's side with thongs of hide or leather; 

 three studs are left standing, whicli pass through the side of the craft 

 and receive, through circular holes cut through theni, wedges or pins 

 to " briug the cleat home" and secure a perfectly water-tight joint. 



With regard to tlu^ antiquity of the ship various factors will have to 

 be taken into consideration. 



The Eiver Ancholme, in a tortuous course, drains a district of con- 

 siderable extent, the " Ancholme Level," which forms a low-lying val- 

 ley, and although not now of great imjxutance for cominercial purposes 

 which are much better served by the " ^ew Ancholme Navigation" 



