“First Mariners” may not be the first
navigators but they are a quite adventurous group determined to recreate man’s
first sailing trips by raft.
They built a raft out of reeds and they will
sail from the island of Kythera to Crete in order to recreate the first sailing
journey in the area that led to the first inhabitation of Crete. The 12-meter
long raft was built using stone tools similar to those used by people in the
Palaeolithic era. The materials used for its construction were 5,000 reeds, 4
cypress trunks, goat leather and rope.
The head of the crew, 73-year-old British
historian and author Bob Hobman, has worked intensively on the project. The
crew is consisted of nine members including two Greeks, Yiannis Kalligeros and
Alexandros Sougiannis from Kythera.
The necessary safety tests have already been
carried out. The length of the journey will depend on weather conditions.
However, according to initial estimates, the journey will last from two to five
days.
The crew will be accompanied by three vessels
that will ensure the safety of the participants providing them with assistance
in case of emergency. The “First Mariners” will follow the diet of the
Paleolithic period that included nuts, fruits, eggs and honey.
The reason for this project was an
archaeological discovery in Greece in August 2010. Archaeologists found in
Crete and Gavdos 125,000-year-old stone tools that confirm the theory that
Paleolithic humans arrived in Crete 130,000 years ago in search of food.
greece.greekreporter.com
