During the Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership project, two dug out canoes have been built, based on local archaeological examples from the Iron Age.
The first one was an oak example based on later prehistoric vessels. This will be similar to the Shapwick canoe now on display at the Museum of Somerset. As a experiment it was fitted with an outrigger, which gave it much greater stability. The attachment was made using treenails at the ends – a feature found on the original.
The second canoe was a beech dugout, based on a find from the foundations of Glastonbury Lake Village. It was fitted with a separate transom board at its wider end, like many prehistoric canoes.
You can see a video of their launch on Shapwick Heath Reserve, courtesy of the BBC.
More information on the canoes and paddles can be found by clicking here.
Keep an eye on our blog to stay up to date with our progress:
In search of timber…
Paddling through Prehistory Pt. 1…
Paddling through Prehistory P. 2…
The Shapwick Canoe’s discovery in 1906.
'Hands on Heritage' in the Avalon Marshes 
Pingback: Archeologia sperimentale: ricostruzione di due piroghe dell’età del ferro nel Somerset, Regno Unito – Museo della Navigazione nelle Acque Interne (MNAI)·
You can see a new video about the canoes at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgf0BHf5pD9GulfGjbf_3Zg
where you can also see 3D video reconstructions of the Sweet track and Glastonbury Lake Village
Cheers,
Richard