The World’s Oldest Canoe: The Pesse Canoe (c. 8000 BCE)

The oldest known canoe in the world, dating to approximately 8000 BCE, was discovered in Drenthe, Netherlands. It is associated with Mesolithic Maglemosian-like tribes, who inhabited the region following the end of the last Ice Age.

Discovery and Characteristics

• The Pesse Canoe, as it is now known, was found in peat deposits during road construction in 1955.
• It was carved from a single log of Scots pine, using stone tools to create a hollowed-out vessel.
• The canoe measures approximately 3 meters (10 feet) in length, suggesting it was designed for individual or small-group travel on lakes and rivers.

Significance of the Find

• This discovery provides direct evidence of Mesolithic watercraft technology, highlighting the importance of waterways for transport, fishing, and exploration.
• The canoe demonstrates that hunter-gatherer societies of the early Holocene were capable of advanced woodworking and tool use.
• It reinforces the idea that waterways played a crucial role in the movement of early human populations and the development of maritime culture in Northern Europe.

Today, the Pesse Canoe is preserved at the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, offering a fascinating glimpse into early human ingenuity and adaptation.