Discussion on the Traces of an Early Phase Lashed-Lug Boats of Southeast Asia
Dublin Core
Title
Discussion on the Traces of an Early Phase Lashed-Lug Boats of Southeast Asia
Description
Lashed-lug boat-building techniques played a significant role in Southeast Asian trading networks. The previous studies reported
that approximately 20 boats in this category have been found. Indeed, an archaeological survey in Thailand during the 1990s had
reported the existence of several boats of this type, but the information was scarce and no excavation had been conducted. Not until
2019, a team of Thai underwater archaeologists carried out a survey along the Andaman Coast, the resources available to conduct
the work including the discovery of boat remnants which were assumed to be lashed-lug type. The first was a boat plank found at
Khlong Thom, the early port site in Krabi province, likely dating back to c. 1st – 5
th century CE. The second was a boat plank found
at Pak-Klong Kluai beach, Ranong province, located in the area of Phukao-Thong archaeological site. Therefore, research on the
boat planks is needed in order to find out the technique of the boat-building and its age. The main purpose of the research is to
present an insightful analysis of the boat remnants. The analysis of boat-building techniques, a sample collection for AMS dating,
and a comparative studmanguiny were carried on. The result of the study reveals a significant aspect of an early phase lashed-lug
boats: planks were carved into protruding lugs with hollowed holes, the hull was secured using a palm rope and wooden wedge,
and no trace of a dowel hole are found. The AMS dating of a wooden sample from both sites provided a date of 1,856 ±25 BP and
2,303 ±29 BP. Comparatively, the boat structure is similar to the lashed-lug boat of Pontian (3rd – 5
th century CE). However, the
hull of these boats bears a different technique of making from other boats (e.g. Butuan and Ban Khlong Yuan boats, 9th century
CE). The discovery of the boat remnants in Thailand has shed new light on the early technique of constructing lashed
that approximately 20 boats in this category have been found. Indeed, an archaeological survey in Thailand during the 1990s had
reported the existence of several boats of this type, but the information was scarce and no excavation had been conducted. Not until
2019, a team of Thai underwater archaeologists carried out a survey along the Andaman Coast, the resources available to conduct
the work including the discovery of boat remnants which were assumed to be lashed-lug type. The first was a boat plank found at
Khlong Thom, the early port site in Krabi province, likely dating back to c. 1st – 5
th century CE. The second was a boat plank found
at Pak-Klong Kluai beach, Ranong province, located in the area of Phukao-Thong archaeological site. Therefore, research on the
boat planks is needed in order to find out the technique of the boat-building and its age. The main purpose of the research is to
present an insightful analysis of the boat remnants. The analysis of boat-building techniques, a sample collection for AMS dating,
and a comparative studmanguiny were carried on. The result of the study reveals a significant aspect of an early phase lashed-lug
boats: planks were carved into protruding lugs with hollowed holes, the hull was secured using a palm rope and wooden wedge,
and no trace of a dowel hole are found. The AMS dating of a wooden sample from both sites provided a date of 1,856 ±25 BP and
2,303 ±29 BP. Comparatively, the boat structure is similar to the lashed-lug boat of Pontian (3rd – 5
th century CE). However, the
hull of these boats bears a different technique of making from other boats (e.g. Butuan and Ban Khlong Yuan boats, 9th century
CE). The discovery of the boat remnants in Thailand has shed new light on the early technique of constructing lashed
Creator
Napat Piromrak
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Piromrak, Napat . 2023. “Discussion on the Traces of an Early Phase Lashed-Lug Boats of Southeast Asia.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, T. Kurt Knoerl, Ligaya Lacsina, Agni Mochtar, and Pierre-Yves Manguin. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/1943
Files
Citation
Napat Piromrak, “Discussion on the Traces of an Early Phase Lashed-Lug Boats of Southeast Asia,” Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage Proceedings, accessed September 16, 2026, https://apconf.omeka.net/items/show/1943.