Canoe History - Fresh Water Fishin

If you have caught the canoeing bug, it’s only natural to wonder,

Who invented the canoe? Or, what’s the history of this watercraft?

Well, the history of the canoe dates back to atleast 5300 BC, when a canoe was but a combination of bark and wood. Then, it has evolved with time and spread throughout the world.

So, in this article about the canoe history, we will go over the brief history of the watercraft.

Table of Contents

What is a Canoe?

A canoe is an open-top, narrow, sleek watercraft. Usually, it has a pointy bow and stern section. The canoeist uses a medium-length single-blade paddle to move and maneuver the craft.

Moreover, the ancient canoe was most likely a dugout. For instance, the 5300 to 3950 BC canoe sports is made from a hollowed out section of a tree or part of it as the canoe hull.

Also, the ancient paddlers used this historic canoe for fishing and transportation.

However, the modern canoe has a hydrodynamic design, and you get to choose from a wide variety of space-age materials.

So, you can effortlessly use the modern canoe as a utility vessel.

The Ever Ensuing Debate of Who Invented the Canoe

Where there is a body of water, we can find the trace of a watercraft. This craft is usually in the form of a canoe.

As such, since our planet is 70% water with countless rivers, lakes, and oceans, it is nearly impossible to track the exact place of the canoe’s origin.

Nevertheless, we can look at the historically significant finds regarding the ancient canoe to better understand the canoe history.

The Oldest Pesse of Netherland

In 1955, Hendrik Wanders, a local farmer, discovered the world’s oldest known canoe near the Pesse village in the northeastern Netherlands.

It’s a prehistoric vessel that featured a dugout scotch pine log. Axes were likely the primary construction tool for the canoe.

Carbon test indicates that the construction of the Pesse canoe goes back to the early Mesolithic period. This data means that the canoe is at least ten thousand years old!

At first look, the Pesse canoe looks like a tree trunk. Fortunately, the local farmer partially identified this relic and saved it from being discarded.

However, there were still doubts about whether or not the Pesse was a watercraft. So, they made a replica of the canoe and tasted it in the water.

The test confirmed that the Pesse was indeed an ancient canoe that was stable in the water!

This canoe was about 3 m or 9.8 ft in length and 44 cm or 1.5 ft in width.

You can find the Pesso canoe in the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands.

The Dugout of Denmark

Denmark is home to the oldest known dugout canoe in Northern Europe.

Carbon test traces the origin of the dugout back to the early Neolithic period. This canoe probably carried the stone age hunters.

This dugout canoe from Brokso features the trunk of an oak tree. The shape and design indicate that axes and wedges were the construction tools.

There are several holes near the stern of the canoe. These holes suggest that the canoe would be able to support a wooden plate or a bulkhead.

This canoe was about 3.8 m or 12.4 ft in length and 55 cm or 1.8 ft in width.

The Dufuna of Nigeria

In 1987, a local herdsman in Dufuna discovered the oldest known canoe in Africa. It’s also the second oldest known canoe in the world!

This dark wood canoe was waterlogged and lay in a sandy bed with clay layers to protect it. The primary tools for constructing the canoe were pick-axes and ax-like cutting tools.

Carbon test shows that the canoes date back to the Neolithic period. It probably carried the ancient fishermen.

The Dafuna canoe possesses an elegant beauty. Therefore, the form of the canoe is a matter of pride for the people of Niger.

This canoe was about 8.4 m or 27.5 ft in length and 50 cm or 1.6 ft in width.

You can find the canoe in the Yobe State capital, Damaturu.

The Aboriginal Australian Bark Canoe

The Australian Aboriginal people have historically famous craftsmanship when it comes to a bark canoe.

They usually use particular trees like the she-oak or stringybark for the bark canoe. In ancient times, these canoes were there for crossing lakes, rivers, and fishing.

The bark canoe construction revolves around a single piece of bark from the tree. The aboriginal people cut the bark using a wooden mallet and hatchet.

Afterward, they insert wooden wedges and cut outlines in the bark. Then, they heat it with fire to make it softer.

Once the bark is soft, they tie, sew it up in the shape of a canoe with plant fibers.

There are two major types of these bark canoes. The Yolngu Gumung Derrkas is for rivers and freshwaters, while the Yunyuwa Na-Riyarrku is suitable for saltwater.

The Indigenous American Birch Bark Canoe

For the native American Indians, the birch bark canoe was the primary method of transportation.

In general, the Indians constructed a light wooden frame first and then attached birch bark over it. They also used other materials if the bark is scarce.

This lightweight, fast birchbark canoe was ideal for traveling along rivers and streams. Plus, it was sturdy enough to survive in rough waters and winds.

Moreover, this canoe could carry a lot of weight in the water, and it was light enough to allow easy portage!

However, it was not very durable. So, rocks could easily damage the canoe. Nevertheless, the repair of the canoe did not require much effort.

This canoe had a typical length of 4.4 m or 14 ft and weighed about 23 kg or 50 lbs.

The Modern Canoe

Canoe construction has evolved to the point where cutting-edge technologies and world-class materials became standard for this watercraft.

While the canoe design is a timeless one, there is no harm in improving it further. The mad scientists in the labs agreed, and now we get to witness the rise in performance.

The modern canoe boasts strong alloys like aluminum that can survive almost any impact in the water but is very heavy.

To combat the weight issues, the canoe manufacturers brought forth expensive materials like royalex, fiberglass which won’t be as sturdy but will be ultra-lightweight!

Besides, you can get a staggering amount of accessories for your canoe, which will let you customize your craft.

However, the roots are still kept alive with some beautiful wooden canoes. These won’t offer you the lightweight hull, but nothing beats the feel of wood in the water!

Cultural Significance

American Fur Trade

The fur trade heavily influences North American trading culture, which took place from the 16th century to the 19th century.

For this trade, the Hudson’s Bay Company used three types of canoe.

The Canot du Maitre was for long-distance cargo carrying.
The Canot du Nord was for speedy deliveries.
Finally, the Canot Leger was for delivering fast news, reports.

The Canadian Symbol of Identity

The canoe is the symbol that connects Canadians with nature and with each other. After all, paddling a canoe in the water depicts Canada’s past, present, and possible future!

In this nation of rivers, the canoe is an expression of love between the people and the country. There is no better way to enjoy the breathtaking nature of Canada than canoeing.

Moreover, the canoe is a vital part of Canada’s folklore and past. For instance, the romantic tale of voyageurs in the Chasse-Galerie is famous worldwide.

Canoeing as Sport

In 1866, John MacGregor, a Scottish explorer, introduced canoeing as a sport. Later on, in 1936, it became a part of the Olympic games.

There is Whitewater Slalom for river running, canoe marathon for long-distance paddling, canoe polo, and so much more.

Also, these sports have given birth to powerful watercraft. For instance, an outrigger canoe specializing in racing and a high-sides impact-resistant canoe for river running.

Take note that the early canoe did not have dedicated seats, so the paddlers knelt inside the canoe.

Conclusion

The history of the canoe is fascinating. After all, this is the human invention that has taken us to some of the world’s most remote corners.

Moreover, it has given us a way to travel faster in the water than we ever imagined, and It has allowed for the expression of our creativity.

In a nutshell, canoe history has fueled the revolution of the modern world!

Read here about Canoe Outriggers

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