Life aboard the barge
In Gaul, barges sailed along rivers and waterways. They transported goods and formed an important link in the commercial exchanges of the Roman Empire.
Ancestors of modern barges, they had few comfort features and accommodated a small crew responsible for carrying cargoes and materials along the water. Life on board, poorly documented in written sources, can now be partially reconstructed thanks to archaeology, experimental archaeology and the study of navigation constraints.
Aboard a barge, most of the space is taken up by goods: foodstuffs, building materials, pottery, … On the Pommerœul barge, the crew enjoyed a rather rare comfort: a cabin! This consisted of a fixed structure with a roof, allowing them to shelter from the weather, cook and sleep.
Fishing to supplement provisions
Before carrying people and boats, the river was also a source of food. The fish found there supplemented and enriched the provisions taken on board.
Boatmen could fish using a harpoon, simple lines with a hook attached at the end, or small nets weighted with small lead sinkers.
Drawing caption:
Fishing with a hook.
@ M. Destrée
Mooring safely
To stop the boat, the boatmen used ropes fixed to the bank or to stakes. When this was not possible, they could use a mooring stone, a heavy block attached to a rope and thrown into the water to stabilise the barge. Ballast, often made of stone, also helped to keep the boat balanced.
Retrieving what falls into the water
On a moving boat, an object may fall into the water. To retrieve it, the boatmen used a boathook or a hook fixed to the end of a pole. This very practical tool allowed them to catch a rope or any other floating object without having to get into the water.
A day on the water
The day began at dawn with a check of the boat and its cargo. Progress was slow, shaped by manoeuvres and the conditions of the river. A break might be taken at midday, but it remained brief. At the end of the day, the crew moored to rest, often near a bank or a trading point. Meals were simple, and nights were spent on board or close by.
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