TIGRIS - Reed boat 60ft long built of Berdi reeds by Bolivian boatbuilders assisted by Marsh Arabs on banks of River Tigris, Mesopotamia. Subsequently sailed 4,200 miles in a period of 5 months from Iraq to Pakistan then Djibouti on the East African shores of the Red Sea. Consideration was given towards continuing the voyage along the coast of Africa and then across the Atlantic Ocean to South America, however for political reasons the voyage terminated at Djibouti and the vessel was burned here.

Tigris consisted of two long cylinders of compressed reeds, the cylinders lashed together and the shape ‘moulded’ by use of a pre-determined wooden frame. Construction of reed houses, islands and boats is traditional in Mesopotamia using the local Berdi reed which should be cut in August for maximum water resistance.

Local ancient tradition told of reed craft coated in a mixture of six parts pitch, three parts bitumen and three parts oil, however following the advice of the Marsh Arabs, Heyerdahl decided against coating the reeds with any substance. Another recipe for the ‘ark’ suggests pumice, bitumen and natron. It may be worthwhile to investigate properties of vaious mixtures, also rubber? as a coating. ‘Coracles’ built of reeds coated in bitumen are presently in use by the Euphrates/Tigtis Marsh Arabs. The bitumen lasts one year before cracking and letting in water.

An experimental bundle of reeds coated in bitumen and immersed in fresh water absorbed the water due to the bitumen becoming too hard and cracking.

Ancient reed craft are traditional to Lake Titicaca Bolivia, Egypt, Phoenicia, Sumer and Indus Valley Culture.

The Sumerian reed ships were known as Ma-gur and had a recorded length of 120 and 300 units.

The largest vessels could carry 18.5 metric tonnes of copper.

The ancestors of the Sumerians arrived by sea from an unknown origin. They imported a ready made civilisation and at first settled at Dilmun, now Bahrein.

The first Sumerian cities were called Ur and Uruk, the Sumerians were masters of canal construction, invented writing, the wheel etc. No metals existed in Sumer. The country was originally afforested but the trees were cut down. Wood was therefore imported as were metals, particularly copper and the island of Dilmun (Bahrein) became the centre of trading activity dealing in metals such as copper.

The Marsh Arabs were surprised to find the Bolivians were Aymara from Uru and lived on floating islands - they had a nearby town called Amara as well as their ancient capital of Ur and they also lived on floating reed islands.

Some Marsh Arabs had red hair and blue eyes.

Walls found at the lowest levels at Dilmun (Bahrein) are of the same construction of closely jointed irregular stones as found on Easter Island, Tiahuanaco, and sites in the Hittite Empire.

In Oman a stepped ziggurat of style similar to pre-Columbian Mexico was found.

Also found was a system of underground aquaducts across the desert with ventilation shafts.

In Pakistan the expedition explored the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro - the Indus Valley Civilisation contemporary with the Sumerians. This was also a reed boat culture with all towns accessible by river/sea. Heyerdahl noted that the Egyptian /Sumer/ Indus Valley civilisations all emerged at the same time along similar sites of river valley. Poses the question - where did these early civilisations originate from?

Pliny states the Egyptians could navigate to India and Ceylon. There was then a route by sea to China.

Neither the reed ships nor the junks in ancient (nor in modern) times could sail from China to America as this was against prevailing winds/currents, but travel by sea was possible in the opposite direction.

Adobe, a sun-dried mixture of mud and straw was common to Egypt/Mesopotamia also to Peru/Mexico.

The vertical-frame loom with two warp beams was identical in Peru to that of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The strain of cotton used for spinning in Mexico and Peru was not wild cotton but an artificially created hybrid which included a strain of cotton first cultivated by Indus Valley people.

Reeds abounded at the Olmec site in Mexico.

The Tigris was equipped with two guara (daggerboards) fore and aft. This was not sufficient to prevent sideways drift or sail to windward and temporary lee boards were made using table tops and oars. The best that could be achieved was 80° to windward.

Tilting of the main yard would provide origin of the more efficient Arab (lateen) sail.

Rowing added to the speed, but boat was undermanned for rowing purposes.

___________________________

The Euphrates/Tigris region was called by the Greeks ‘Mesopotamia’ - the land between the two rivers.

Babylon = 32° 30’ North. Curious co-incidence - the region between the rivers Parana/Uruguay also came to be called ‘Mesopotamia’ or ‘Entre Rios’ - between rivers, latitude 32° 30’ South. Note river name Uru-guay.