Plank fragments found in Vodlozero

Two plank fragmants from sewn boats. Russian Carelia

Two pieces of strakes from sewn boats were found in old houses in the village of Kansanavolok, at Vodlozero lake (Carelia, NE Russia). The bigger one is over 2m long and 22-25cm wide (see picture (40Kb)). It was, apparently, taken when the boat was completely broken apart (some traces of wearing, like against stones in the surf, are present at the inner edge, where it cannot occur in a wholesome boat), and utilized to mend some crack in the attic. The smaller fragment was nailed to the threshold in another house, to make the door close tightly. This one was painted with dark red oil paint together with the door and the door frame. Fragments of root stitches survived in both pieces. (see picture 1 (24.5Kb), picture 2 (30Kb)). The sewing thread was a root (most probably spruce root), 4-8mm thick, twisted as a withe to be made more flexible. Holes are about 8mm in diameter, stitches are wedged in them by small treenails (local tradition says these must be made of alder-tree). Hood ends were nailed to the stems with square iron nails approx 7 by 7 mm, of which two holes are remaining (33Kb). (Nearly all hood end fitting to the stem was cut off when the plank was used to mend a crack; originally it was tapered smoothly toward the end until 4-5cm wide). Only one small nail hole can be attributed to a rib fastening -- it seems to be a piece of a lower strake not fastened to the foremost (or rearmost) rib. One flat hand-wrought nail remains in this bigger piece, it was evidently put later to repair the boat when old.

Both pieces are pine planks sawed probably by means of a hand saw, (the sort manned by two people, one above the log lying on a tall sawhorses, and the other one beneath it). The bigger plank is 14-16mm thick, the smaller is 19-21mm thick.

Another mysterious plank with sewing holes and grooves (34Kb) at one end was found; It is spruce, about 15mm thick and 30cm wide, axe-carved. It could not be a boat strake, most probably it was a part of a sledge.

All fragments can be dated between 1880-1930, from reasonable judgment about local history and dating of the houses.