The Pesse canoe is the world’s oldest known boat, dating back to the Mesolithic period approximately 8040 to 7510 BC (1)

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In 1955 near the village of Pesse, in the Netherlands, during the construction of a highway the canoe was discovered

It is made from a hollowed-out trunk of a Scots pine tree (2)

It’s about 3 meters (117 inches) long; and 44 cm (17 inches) wide (3)

Most likely used as a canoe for navigating water. Hunting, and fishing the watery landscapes; including marshes, creeks, and lakes. And is confirmed by other discoveries.
They would use the craft to catch pike, and use flint arrows to shoot birds, while gathering fruits, vegetables and nuts (4)

Though some early skeptics suggested it could have been a feeding trough for animals. Animals not kept by the people from this era, and during the mesolithic (5)

Today, the Pesse canoe is displayed in the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, near the site (6). It is considered a crucial artifact in understanding early human water travel.

Cite: 1) “Oudste bootje ter wereld kon werkelijk varen” (http://www.archeoforum.nl/Pesse10.html). Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). ANP. 12 April 2001

2) Beuker, J.R.; Niekus, M.J.L.Th. (1997). “De Kano Van Pesse – De Bijl Erin” (http://www.archeof orum.nl/Pesse1.html). De Nieuwe Drentse Volksalmanak (in Dutch)

3) Wierenga, Jan (12 April 2001). “Kano Van Pesse Kon Echt Varen” (http://www.archeoforum.nl/ Pesse9.html). Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch)

4) James C. Kennedy (2017) A Concise History of the Netherlands Cambridge : Cambridge University Press

5) Niekus, Marcel J.Th. (4 April 1998). “INGEZONDEN BRIEF (1)” (http://www.archeoforum.nl/Pe sse4.html) [Letter to the Editor]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch)

6) Wanders, Rene. “Boot van Pesse” (http://www.bootvanpesse.nl) (in Dutch)

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