Dramont F, second half of the 4th century AD
Country: France
Place: West of Cap Dramont, near Saint-Raphaël (Var)
Coordinates (approximate): 43.41, 6.84
Type: Late Roman merchant ship
Identified: No
Dated: Second half of the 4th century AD.
Beam: Unknown.
Keel Length: Unknown.
Length Overall: Unknown; about 12 m of hull preserved.
Number of Masts: Unknown.
History of the wreck
The wreck1 lies west of Cap Dramont, near Saint-Raphaël. About 12 m of the hull of the ship, dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, were preserved, but only a small portion 1.10 m long and 2.1 m wide was studied (Joncheray 1975 and 1977).
Description of the site
About 12 m of the hull were preserved; only a portion 1.10 m long and 2.1 m wide was studied (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Plan of the studied portion of the hull of the Dramont F, and cross-section (after Joncheray 1975: 126).
Cargo
Not reported.
Ballast
Not reported.
Anchors
Not reported.
Guns
Not applicable.
Iron concretions
A large number of iron nails were recorded, probably related to the fastening of the ceiling planks. An iron bolt connected a floor timber, and possibly a keelson, to the keel.
Hull Remains
The cross-section shows a ship with flat floor timbers, which ultimately give the hull lines a rounded appearance. The hull seems to be a variation of the western Mediterranean Roman type, since it had been built on a shell-first concept, both for its lines and for its structure. A mixed method between shell and skeleton was probably used in its construction, as shown by the widely spaced mortises, “forgotten” tenons and their complete absence in some strakes.
Keel, keelson and mast step
The keel was of trapezoidal section, higher than it is wide, 9.5 cm wide at its base, 10.5 cm at its upper face and 14.5 cm high, with a simple bevelled rabbet for the garboard strakes. An iron bolt connected a floor timber, and possibly a keelson, to the keel.
Frames
The frames of the Dramont F were of square, trapezoidal or rectangular section, and the general pattern seems to have been flat floor timbers with futtocks, without any connection between them, together with half-frames starting about 1 cm from the keel. They were 5.5 to 10.5 cm sided and 8.5 to 11 cm moulded, with a wide room-and-space (malla) of 37 cm. The framing was fastened to the hull by wooden treenails 1.1 to 1.4 cm in diameter, at a rate of two treenails per planking strake.
Planking
The mortises in the hull strakes were between 5 and 7 cm wide, 0.7 cm thick and only 4 cm deep, spaced 5.8 to 8.2 cm apart (c. 19.5–25 cm from centre to centre). In the joint between the keel and the garboard strakes they were spaced 15 to 23 cm apart (c. 25 cm from centre to centre). The tenons were 3.5 to 5.5 cm wide, 0.5–0.6 cm thick and 6 to 7 cm long. The locking pegs were 0.7 to 0.8 cm in diameter and had been driven from the inside of the hull. The tenons were much smaller than the mortises, so that they had a great deal of play (they filled 70% of the mortise). One mortise without a tenon was observed, and at least one strake had no mortises.
Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales
Not preserved; the many iron nails recorded are probably related to the fastening of the ceiling planks.
Caulking
The whole hull was coated inside and out with a layer of resin to improve its watertightness.
Size and scantlings
No estimate of the ship’s dimensions is given. The keel (9.5–10.5 × 14.5 cm), the frames (5.5–10.5 × 8.5–11 cm) at a room-and-space of 37 cm, and the widely spaced, loose mortise-and-tenon joints are characteristic of this late Roman hull.
Table 1. Scantling of the timber remains of the Dramont F Shipwreck
| Timber | Sided [cm] | Molded [cm] |
| Keel | 9.5–10.5 | 14.5 |
| Keelson | – | – |
| Maststep Mortise | – – | – – |
| Buttresses | – | – |
| Frames | 5.5–10.5 | 8.5–11 |
| Futtocks | – | – |
| Room-and-space At central frames | 37 | |
| Planking | – | – |
| Ceiling | – | – |
| Main mast Ø Chock | – – | – – |
Keel: 9.5 cm wide at its base and 10.5 cm at its upper face. Frame dimensions are ranges for all frames.
Wood
Not reported.
Bibliography
Joncheray, J.-P. 1975. Une épave du Bas Empire, Dramont « F ». Cahiers d’Archéologie Subaquatique 4: 91–140.
Joncheray 1977. [Full reference to be completed.]
Pomey, P., Kahanov, Y. and Rieth, E. 2012. Transition from shell to skeleton in ancient Mediterranean ship-construction: analysis, problems, and future research. The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 41.2: 235–314.
Notes
1 This summary is not the author’s own work but has been taken from Pomey et al. 2012.