Researchers recreate 8,000-year-old sailing technology off Israel’s coast

Researchers at the University of Haifa have successfully reconstructed a 4-meter reed boat using materials and techniques consistent with the Neolithic period. The vessel, constructed from approximately 1,600 reeds, was tested off Neve Yam beach, directly opposite submerged Neolithic settlements dating back 7,000 to 10,000 years. Prof. Ehud Galili, an archaeologist at the university, has previously discovered fishhooks and fish bones at these sites, indicating that ancient inhabitants were active maritime users. Despite this evidence, no physical remains of watercraft from this era have been discovered in the eastern Mediterranean. Master’s student Shay Niv led the experimental archaeology project, analyzing historical reliefs, clay models, and ethnographic data to determine the most plausible vessel design. After testing a smaller model for buoyancy, the team constructed the full-size boat, which proved stable and seaworthy during sea trials. Prof. David Friesem noted that while the experiment does not definitively prove the exact appearance of Neolithic watercraft, it demonstrates that reed boats were an optimal and effective use of available natural resources for coastal travel in that period.