• State of the Art

    The AdriaS project arises from the long term absence of the discipline of nautical archaeology from Croatian archaeological scholarship, the lack of joint archaeological and historical research in shipbuilding and seafaring issues, and the need for an up-to-date interdisciplinary approach to the research, recording and interpretation of the complexity of ships and their natural, economic, political and cultural/historical contexts.

    It is difficult to explain technological change in shipbuilding history. Any particular ship-design is the result of a number of human and natural factors. Ship construction is governed by the shipbuilder’s knowledge, skills, tradition, and taste, as well as the materials, tools, and technology available. The purpose for which a ship is built must also be considered, and its means of propulsion as incorporated into the design. Often so many social, political, economic, technological, and even symbolic factors play important roles in stimulating these changes, and it is difficult to weigh their importance as determinants of a particular technological shift at any particular time. Sometimes changes can be explained by the development or adoption of a new technology, but often the questions that arise are more complex.

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