Alessandro Ghidoni
Exeter Associate
About me:
I am maritime archaeologist with a background in experimental archaeology, ethnography and material culture studies, and a member of the Centre for Islamic Archaeology. I have completed my Ph.D. (Al-Qasimi scholarship) at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, with a thesis on Indian Ocean medieval watercraft based on archaeological evidence from the Islamic site of al-Balid, southern Oman. More generally, I am interested in past and present shipbuilding and seafaring in the Indian Ocean. I have been involved in maritime-focused ethnographic, archaeology and experimental archaeology projects in Oman, Emirates, Qatar, Zanzibar and India ranging from the early Bronze age to modern era. I was Technical Director in the Jewel of Muscat project, a reconstruction of a medieval sewn cargo vessel based on the 9th century Belitung shipwreck discovered in Indonesia that sailed from Oman to Singapore in 2010. I have lived in the Sultanate of Oman between 2008 and 2016, where my colleague Dr Eric Staples and I have established a research centre with an experimental archaeological boatyard, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman.
During my Ph.D. I have curated an exhibition on my research, and received grants and scholarships from several institutions, including Al-Qasimi, IASA (International Association for the study of Arabia, formerly British Foundation for the Study of Arabia) and Barakat Trust.
Research Unit:
Centre for Islamic Archaeology
Research Project:
The Ship Timbers from the Islamic Site of al-Balid: A Case Study of Sewn-Plank Technology in the Indian Ocean
In my thesis, I undertake the most comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of Islamic era sewn-boat technology in the Indian Ocean to date, with a particular emphasis on the sewn-planks discovered at al-Balid, southern Oman. The timbers belonging to various boats and ships either repaired or broken down at the site, were recycled as construction elements in the buildings of the citadel of the Islamic port. My study provides a technical analysis of the al-Balid timbers in a comparative context. First, the pieces are examined from a material perspective by analyzing the technical details of each plank and identifying their material composition. Second, the timbers are then compared with extant textual, iconographic, ethnographic, archaeological, and experimental archaeological evidence. Finally, this study contextualizes the al-Balid timbers within the broader material networks in the Indian Ocean during the medieval Islamic period. In doing so, it increases our knowledge of Indian Ocean maritime technology and of the people who built these historically important vessels.
Research Supervisory team:
Prof. Timothy Insoll (Al-Qasimi Professor of African and Islamic Archaeology)
Dr. John P. Cooper (Senior Lecturer in Arabic Studies and Islamic Material Culture)
Research Wider Research Interests:
Maritime Archaeology, Indian Ocean watercraft and maritime communities, boatbuilding and seafaring, sewn boats, Bronze Age boatbuilding, Medieval boatbuilding and seafaring.
Professional/research experience:
January 2018 to present
Uk and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Research Consultant - Bronze Age Boat Project, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi.
January 2017 January 2020
UK
Consultant/Reviewer of collection for Oman Across the Ages Museum, Oman.
June 2015 June 2015
Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Abu Dhabi TCA Boats and Ancient Harbours Project - Consultant
An initial interdisciplinary maritime landscapes survey for the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, conducted to assess the state of maritime heritage in Abu Dhabi
July 2010 December 2016
Oman and India.
Oman Maritime
Technical Director
An Omani government initiative involved in a variety of experimental archaeological and heritage projects designed to preserve and promote Oman’s maritime past, including the projects listed below:
- The German University of Technology Museum of the History of Islamic Science Maritime Section Project: A project to construct, install and provide panels for a 12-m long thirteenth-century sewn boat reconstruction (the Al-arr Boat), two sail samples, two scaled-models, three navigational instruments, and tool and materials displays for the Museum of the History of Islamic Science, Oman (2012-2016);
- The Oman National Museum Maritime History Gallery Project: An Omani government project to construct and provide panels of three full-size vessels (a nineteenth century sewn reconstruction, a third millennium BCE reed craft, and a date-palm craft), nine full-size boat sections, nine scaled-models, seven navigational instruments, and tool and materials displays for the National Museum of Oman (2011-2016);
- The Zaruqah Project: an Omani government initiative to build two traditional boats (zaruqah) from Musandam and re-introduce Omani youth to sailing traditional craft (2010-2016);
- The Babylonian Ark Project – Construction Supervisor and Consultant: A project to construct a 12-m circular reed boat based on the translation of a 2nd Millennium cuneiform tablet from Mesopotamia for an international documentary. The project was based in Alleppey, Kerala, Southern India (2013-2014);
- The Oman et la Mer Project (2013-2014): an exhibition on Oman's maritime heritage held at the Musee de la Marine, Paris;
- Maritime Footprints Project (2013): A survey of the maritime landscape of the island of Masirah, Oman;
- The Sambuq al-Dhi’b Project: An Omani government initiative to document and build a replica of the last sailing sambuq of Oman, the 16-m long vessel al-Dhi’b, currently on display at the Sumhuram Archaeological Park in Khor Rori, Dhofar (2011-2013);
October 2008 July 2010
Oman
Technical Director
Reconstruction of a 9th-century sewn plank boat based on the Belitung Wreck remains. Ship sailed successfully from Oman to Singapore.
Participated in the construction and in the voyage.
November 2007 October 2008
Reggio Emilia, and Treviglio, Italy.
Rescue Archaeologist
With this archaeological cooperative society, participated in two rescue archaeology excavations:
- 2007 - 2008: Excavation of the site of S. Ilario d'Enza, Taneto (RE), Italy. The project was under the scientific direction of the Emilia-Romagna Archaeological Superintendence. Responsibilities included excavation and topographic survey of the settlement.
- 2008: Preventive Archaeological Survey and Excavation at Treviglio (BG), Italy, under the scientific direction of the Archaeological Superintendence of Lombardia.
May 2007 November 2007
Cesena, Italy
Rescue Archaeologist
Participated in a rescue archaeology excavation in northern Italy organized by a cooperative dedicated to the recovery and development of Italy’s archaeological, architectonical, and artistic heritage. The project was under the scientific direction of the Emilia-Romagna Archaeological Superintendence.
October 2004 September 2005
Sur, Oman.
Site Manager at the Magan Boat Project, Sur, Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Project to build and sail a reconstruction of a sea-going Early Bronze Age reed boat.
March 2003 April 2003
Qalhat, Oman.
Archaeologist at the Qalhat Project, Ministry of Heritage and Culture of Oman, an underwater archaeological survey and land-based DGPS survey of the ancient city of Qalhat, Eastern Oman.
February 2002 December 2002
Ravenna, Italy
Site Manager at the Magan Boat Project, Ravenna, Italy, the construction of 13-metre Bronze Age reed-built boat based on the evidence from the 3rdmillennium-BC site of Ra's al-Jinz, Oman.
January 2001 January 2003
Parma, Italy.
Rescue Archaeologist
Participated in several rescue archaeology excavations in northern Italy funded and coordinated by a consulting cooperative dedicated to cultural and archaeological preservation. Responsibilities included excavation and documentation of the following settlements.
January 2000 January 2002
Sultanate of Oman
Involved in the Magan Boat Project, a reconstruction of a III millennium BC prototype of reed boat based on the evidence found in the Bronze Age site of Ra’s al Jinz, Oman.
January 1998 January 2007
University of Bologna and Ministry of Heritage and Culture of Oman
Participated in the Joint Hadd Project, an Italian-French archaeological mission to the Sultanate of Oman, under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology, University of Bologna, IsIAO (Rome), and Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris). Scientific direction was provided by Prof. Maurizio Tosi, University of Bologna, and Dr. Serge Cleuziou, CNRS. The Joint Hadd Project is a multi-disciplinary program of research, which has carried out several survey and excavation campaigns in Ja’lan, Oman, since 1985.
Excavation and documentation of the Bronze Age settlement of HD6, Ra’s al-Hadd, Oman, during 6 excavation campaigns.
Expedition manager of the Joint Hadd Project (Italian Archaeological Mission) for the year 2007.
Education:
January 2017 January 2021
University of Exeter
PhD at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. Thesis title: The Ship Timbers from the Islamic Site of al-Balid: A Case Study of Sewn-Plank Technology in the Indian Ocean