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Description:
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Buy a puzzle , assemble it , and destroy its original box . Take the puzzle , go to a lake ,
throw the puzzle in the lake , and leave it for a few weeks . Return to the lake and try to
rebuild the puzzle from the remaining pieces . Such is the challenge of the research goals
presented on this abstract - the reconstruction of a Portuguese frigate , Santo Antonio de
Tanná , from its submerged remains . This thesis focuses on the mechanisms of
reconstructing the ship , including the thought process , new computer tools , and
imagination required for an archaeologist to be a detective of lost eras .
The main objective was to understand the construction of a late Seventeenth -century
Portuguese frigate . Frigates were responsible for patrolling the seas , intercepting fastmoving
vessels , re -supplying military trading stations , and protecting trade routes . The
existence of Portuguese frigates was known from historical records , but Santo Antonio
de Tanná is the only frigate identified in the archaeological record . As such , its
reconstruction should enable scholars to better understand the actual capabilities of
seventeenth century frigates . A particular challenge in this study was ascertaining the manner in which Santo Antonio
de Tanná's construction reflected the state of affairs of the Portuguese trade network .
Although their construction methods were advanced , the Portuguese adopted a
shipbuilding design that was not able to compete as well in the new conditions of a
changing global context . This study clearly demonstrate that cargo capacity was given
greater emphasis than either speed or maneuverability , illustrating the on -going necessity
of the Portuguese to build military ships with cargo capacity sufficient for minimal trade ,
even at the expense of speed .
These were just the first steps in terms of what could be learned from the reconstruction .
The best method to understand the ship , a three -dimensional object , was to recreate it
into a three -dimensional environment in order to create a more accurate model . The
resulting model permitted research to extend beyond the limits of the individual line
drawings through the added benefit of being able to calculate hydrodynamics , sailing
characteristics , and other data based on the ship's morphology . |