The Eleppu Project: Exploring Shipbuilding and Navigation in the Ancient Near East

The Eleppu Project: Exploring Shipbuilding and Navigation in the Ancient Near East

Foundations and Origins

Launched in 2010 at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale in Brest, the Eleppu Project set out to fill a noticeable gap in how ancient Near Eastern maritime history was understood. It operates within the research group Patrimoine, Histoire des Sciences et des Techniques (PaHST) and since 2012 also collaborates with the Centre François Viète (UBO/Nantes, France) and the Assyriological Institute at the University of Heidelberg, Germany eleppu.hypotheses.org.

The project's name eleppu is rooted in Akkadian, meaning “ship,” whereas in Sumerian the term appears as ^{ĝeš}ma₂, marked in cuneiform with a wooden-object determinative eleppu.hypotheses.org.

Intentions and Research Approach

From the outset, the Eleppu team set forth a multifaceted strategy:

• Mapping the historical maritime record: reviewing original cuneiform texts and archaeological artifacts to chart the evolution of watercraft and navigation through the late 4th to the end of the 1st millennium BCE.

• Bridging disciplinary boundaries: blending Assyriology (philological expertise) with the history of technology to decode ship-building techniques and terminology.

• Technological reconstruction: crafting physical models, 3D visuals, and animations to bring these ancient vessels to life and verify technical hypotheses through simulation eleppu.hypotheses.org.

• Dissemination for broader scholarship: curating source material to be accessible for experts across archaeology, engineering history, and related fields eleppu.hypotheses.org.
  

Leadership and Division of Labor

The project reflects a clear division of expertise: Ariel M. Bagg focuses on the third and later first millennia BCE, while Grégory Chambon directs research on the second millennium BCE. Both work closely with model-makers, designers, and naval architects to ensure scholarly accuracy and technical feasibility eleppu.hypotheses.org.

Historical Context: Why It Matters

Before Eleppu, maritime developments in the Ancient Near East were scantily represented in broader histories of technology. Despite rich evidence ranging from cuneiform lexicons to visual materials the subject remained largely neglected, even by specialists outside Assyriology eleppu.hypotheses.org.

Additional Perspectives on Water Transport in Mesopotamia

Several independent studies further illuminate the broader scene of ancient Mesopotamian watercraft:

• Ceramic and terracotta models: A pottery vessel (around 26 cm long) found in a burial at Eridu contains sockets and rigging holes, suggesting early sail use around 4000 BCE Encyclopedia.com.

• Seal imagery and royal models: Cylinder seals from the Late Uruk period show distinctive boats with both paddlers and a pole operator. A silver ship model from Ur (circa 2500 BCE) includes seats and paddles for crew members Encyclopedia.com.

• Diverse transport forms: Mesopotamians used a variety of craft from large rafts supported by inflated animal skins for heavy goods to coracles and reed bundles for lightweight purposes Encyclopedia.com.

• Regulatory texts: Legal codes, like that of Ur-Namma, include stipulations regarding river navigation, insurance, and liability for damages highlighting the economic and social importance of waterways Encyclopedia.com.

• Modern analogues: Even in recent history, simple watercraft made of sheep or goat skins, called kele, were used for rafts in northern Mesopotamia indicating deep-rooted continuity ResearchGate.

• Economic hubs and law-making: A 2024 study on riverine transport along the Tigris and Euphrates highlights vehicles such as mashoof, isbiyah, guffa, and balam, and notes the city of Hit’s role as a center for their production. Regulators also developed rules to manage transport services DergiPark.