Oar-Powered Heritage Vessels
F2. Maritime Culture, Heritage, Archaeology, Art and MuseumsDefinition
Surviving examples of mediaeval Mediterranean galleys.
Oar-powered heritage vessels are preserved or reconstructed craft propelled by rowing rather than sail or engine, ranging from ancient Mediterranean galleys and triremes to Viking longships, Cornish gigs, and Norfolk beach yawls. The flagship reconstruction is the Olympias, an Athenian trireme built 1985 to 1987 with about 170 rowers, sea-trialed by the Trireme Trust to test classical naval performance. Other examples include the Sea Stallion from Glendalough, a 30-meter Viking longship replica trialed from 2007. Such vessels test historical seamanship and propulsion through experimental archaeology.
Source: Experimental maritime archaeology; Olympias trireme reconstruction (Trireme Trust, 1985 to 1987).