Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A submerged Neolithic settlement in Lake Bracciano north of Rome is the site where the oldest boats in the Mediterranean have been found. These dugout canoes are so large and have such impressive modifications that archaeologists think they may have been used for seafaring, as well as lake and river travel. Other research on Mediterranean settlements dating back to both the Mesolithic and Neolithic suggests that ancient groups didn't just travel short distances by sea hopping from one visible island to another, but took much longer, more dangerous journeys. This raises questions about what boat technology and navigation techniques they had. In this video I talk about the five boats excavated from La Marmotta submerged Neolithic village.
#ancient #archaeology #neolithic
✨ IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 Introduction
01:17 Ancient Seafaring
02:06 La Marmotta
03:40 The Neolithic Canoes
08:05 Experimental Archaeology
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youtube.com/channel/UC0Hs5t0U6Uf993Tba22YmKA/join
✨ FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS
BlueSky: @MegalithHunter.bsky.social
✨ REFERENCES
Gibaja JF, Mineo M, Santos FJ, Morell B, Caruso-Fermé L, Remolins G, et al. (2024). The first Neolithic boats in the Mediterranean: The settlement of La Marmotta (Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italy). PLoS ONE 19(3): e0299765. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299765
Mineo M, Mazzucco N, Rottoli M, Remolins G, Caruso-Ferme L, Gibaja JF. Textiles, basketry and cordage from the Early Neolithic settlement of La Marmotta, Lazio. Antiquity. 2023; 97(392):314-330.
Experimental archaeology: monoxylon.cz/en
✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
CC BY 4.0 DEED creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Images and diagrams about the canoes at La Marmotta, credit: Gibaja, JF., et al. in the paper referenced above.
Images of other artefacts at La Marmotta, credit: Mineo, M., et al. in the paper referenced above.
CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Pesse boat, credit: Boomstamkano van Pesse, Drents Museum
Google Earth
Lake Bracciano location
A submerged Neolithic settlement in Lake Bracciano north of Rome is the site where the oldest boats in the Mediterranean have been found. These dugout canoes are so large and have such impressive modifications that archaeologists think they may have been used for seafaring, as well as lake and river travel. Other research on Mediterranean settlements dating back to both the Mesolithic and Neolithic suggests that ancient groups didn't just travel short distances by sea hopping from one visible island to another, but took much longer, more dangerous journeys. This raises questions about what boat technology and navigation techniques they had. In this video I talk about the five boats excavated from La Marmotta submerged Neolithic village.
#ancient #archaeology #neolithic
✨ IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 Introduction
01:17 Ancient Seafaring
02:06 La Marmotta
03:40 The Neolithic Canoes
08:05 Experimental Archaeology
✨ JOIN MY CHANNEL
youtube.com/channel/UC0Hs5t0U6Uf993Tba22YmKA/join
✨ FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS
BlueSky: @MegalithHunter.bsky.social
✨ REFERENCES
Gibaja JF, Mineo M, Santos FJ, Morell B, Caruso-Fermé L, Remolins G, et al. (2024). The first Neolithic boats in the Mediterranean: The settlement of La Marmotta (Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italy). PLoS ONE 19(3): e0299765. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299765
Mineo M, Mazzucco N, Rottoli M, Remolins G, Caruso-Ferme L, Gibaja JF. Textiles, basketry and cordage from the Early Neolithic settlement of La Marmotta, Lazio. Antiquity. 2023; 97(392):314-330.
Experimental archaeology: monoxylon.cz/en
✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
CC BY 4.0 DEED creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Images and diagrams about the canoes at La Marmotta, credit: Gibaja, JF., et al. in the paper referenced above.
Images of other artefacts at La Marmotta, credit: Mineo, M., et al. in the paper referenced above.
CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Pesse boat, credit: Boomstamkano van Pesse, Drents Museum
Google Earth
Lake Bracciano location
