Attempt to Retrace Ancient Voyage Sinks
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
An international team of archeologists attempting to retrace a Bronze Age trade route by sailing from Oman to India in a reed boat had to be rescued this week by the Omani navy.
The 40-foot craft was made of reeds, date palm fibers and tar. It had a wool sail and two teak oars. The team made it seven miles from the port of Sur in Oman before the boat sank.
Plans for the trip began when excavations on the Arabian peninsula turned up fragments of tar bearing impressions of bound reeds, rope lashings and barnacles.
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