Building and navigating

Building and navigating a Gallo-Roman barge required precise know-how and a thorough knowledge of the river. This flat-bottomed boat, a true working tool for Gallo-Roman boatmen, was perfectly suited to carrying heavy cargoes in shallow waters.

From the selection of timber to propulsion and repairs, each stage involved well-mastered technical skills.

Building a barge: technical know-how

Choosing the timber was essential: certain parts of the tree were preferred for their natural strength and shape, so that they could better withstand the stresses caused by the current and the cargo.

The pieces forming the hull were fitted together using assembly techniques such as the Jupiter joint.

The structure was reinforced by frames placed perpendicularly  inside the boat. The edge was strengthened by a gunwale, which also  allowed the boatmen to move around and navigate, even when the barge was loaded to capacity.

Drawing caption: 

The frames are cut from the start of a branch.

@ M. Blin

Moving along the river

River navigation required constant effort to avoid obstacles, while keeping an eye on the cargo and adapting to changes in water level.

Boatmen manoeuvred using a steering oar and poles/boathooks that allowed them to push or guide the boat.

When travelling downstream, the boat was carried by the current. But to go back up the river, towing from the bank was necessary.

The wind could be used with a sail, but it remained secondary and is poorly documented (in archaeology or in historical sources).

Transporting the wealth of the region

Barges played an essential role in trade because they could carry loads far heavier and bulkier than those transported by land.

The Gallo-Romans exported and imported a wide variety of goods.

Goods exported from our regions were quite varied: building and fuel materials (stone, wood, tiles, coal, …), foodstuffs (cereals, animals, …), and craft products (leather, pottery, …).

Imported goods came from across the Empire, such as oil, wine, amphorae, samian ware (red-slip pottery), marble, jewellery, ….

Drawing caption: 

The Pommerœul barge.

@ M. Destrée