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Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series
The Sea of Galilee Boat: An Extraordinary 2000 Year Old Discovery
This remarkable true story recounts one of the great discoveries of the century: finding a 2000-year-old boat from the Sea of Galilee. Shelley Wachsmann, a respected nautical archaeologist, shares the joy and drama he felt in discovering and excavating the first ancient boat from this biblical location. Through his perceptive eyes, we experience the adventure of a lifetime as he offers his personal account of first setting eyes on and then preserving this unique treasure. Wachsmann is a master storyteller, interweaving his own unforgettable story of this challenging excavation with the writings of the past. Jews and Christians alike will be captivated by his search for the boat's identity. Wachsmann - like a detective - hunts down clues that will reveal the boat's actual history. Since the boat turns out to be a 2000 year old craft, he carefully examines the Gospels for passages that will shed light on this wondrous vessel. This ever-curious author also traces Jewish historical texts to discover that the Sea of Galilee, during the boat's vibrant past, was the setting for one of the most tragic massacres of Jews - the Battle of Migdal. During this sea battle, we learn, Roman soldiers mercilessly slaughtered Jews as they attempted to escape in boats like this one, turning the Sea of Galilee into a sea of crimson. The saga of tenderly extracting this extraordinary boat from the earth, protecting its timbers, and restoring it to health is a compelling tale on its own. Wachsmann impresses us with the dedication and creativity of his makeshift team in improvising answers to the seemingly impossible logistic problems that dog them every step of the way. Still, generosity abounds and actual rainbows appear as scores of volunteers pull together to save this singular monument of the past. Wachsmann punctuates the absorbing details of preserving this artifact with the rich history that surrounds the Sea of Galilee, making this a uniquely enduring and personal work.
- GenresArchaeologyNonfiction
438 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 27, 2022
Even the most casual student of scripture is at least cognizant of the vivid stories in which Jesus and his apostles enter various boats either for transportation or privacy. The gospels ring with accounts of fearsome storms that terrorize the men who were Jesus’s closest associates.
But what kind of boat did they use? What did it look like? How was it built? Was it like boats that Jews would use less than a century later in a naval battle against the Romans in the sea of Galilee—a battle in which thousands of Jews lost their lives?
A drought was in full swing at the sea of Galilee in 1986. Two local brothers, caught up in the fascination of treasure hunting, stumbled onto what they thought was an old boat. They did the responsible thing and involved Israeli authorities in their find. The author was among those called in to assess the find and bring it forth from the sediment. This is the story of a painstaking excavation and preservation effort. While it was painstaking in its caution, scientists also knew they were racing against time and the elements. If the wood dried out at all, it would crumble into the dust of antiquities. Scientists frantically worked to free the boat and prevent it from obliteration by air and sunlight.
Wachsman makes it abundantly clear that the boat he helped preserve was almost certainly not one Jesus would have used. But someone built and used it either slightly before, during or slightly after the years that included Jesus’s life. He expressed annoyance with members of the press who insisted on calling it “the Jesus Boat.”
You learn much about ancient boat construction and how it differs from more modern techniques. This got technical enough that my mind wandered in the final chapter. But this is a gripping story well told. He refers to the four gospels frequently and to the writings of Josephus to describe a naval battle that was a disaster for the Jews.
So, while Jesus and His Apostles likely didn’t use this boat, the fact that they would have used one a lot like the one Wachsmann helped preserve gives the book a kind of immediacy and value it might not otherwise have had for me.
But what kind of boat did they use? What did it look like? How was it built? Was it like boats that Jews would use less than a century later in a naval battle against the Romans in the sea of Galilee—a battle in which thousands of Jews lost their lives?
A drought was in full swing at the sea of Galilee in 1986. Two local brothers, caught up in the fascination of treasure hunting, stumbled onto what they thought was an old boat. They did the responsible thing and involved Israeli authorities in their find. The author was among those called in to assess the find and bring it forth from the sediment. This is the story of a painstaking excavation and preservation effort. While it was painstaking in its caution, scientists also knew they were racing against time and the elements. If the wood dried out at all, it would crumble into the dust of antiquities. Scientists frantically worked to free the boat and prevent it from obliteration by air and sunlight.
Wachsman makes it abundantly clear that the boat he helped preserve was almost certainly not one Jesus would have used. But someone built and used it either slightly before, during or slightly after the years that included Jesus’s life. He expressed annoyance with members of the press who insisted on calling it “the Jesus Boat.”
You learn much about ancient boat construction and how it differs from more modern techniques. This got technical enough that my mind wandered in the final chapter. But this is a gripping story well told. He refers to the four gospels frequently and to the writings of Josephus to describe a naval battle that was a disaster for the Jews.
So, while Jesus and His Apostles likely didn’t use this boat, the fact that they would have used one a lot like the one Wachsmann helped preserve gives the book a kind of immediacy and value it might not otherwise have had for me.
March 20, 2017
Wachsmann's book is an excellent example of what archaelogical narritive can be. Books written by scientists tend toward the bland. An appreciation for the practical often sidesteps a tendency toward the imginative. However, this book employs both. Wachsmann tells the story of the discovery, excavation, conservation and interpretation of a boat found in the sea bed of the Sea of Galilee. It is exciting for its intensity, since it had to be recovered within a short wondow of opportunity before the water came back ... a reltatively unpredictable danger in a dig like this. Like some other "rescue" stories, the narrative is full of serendipitous fulfillment of sudden and urgent needs. The necessary person just happens to be right at hand. Also, though inventive problem solving, like the introduction of goldfish to the holding tank to clear away the mosquito larvea.
He is Jewish, but Wachsman approaches the connection of the boat with the gospels with respect. He is clear that the probability of this boat having any connection with Jesus is very small indeed (about 1/2000). He also raises the connection of the boat with a little known Roman naval battle that took place on the lake and recorded by Josephus. In all, the boat is unremarkable as we would expect it to be. But its age and the apparent level of its preservation is quite remarkable. The book becomes something of a small commentary on certain ideas surrounding Jesus and his fishermen apostles. I, for one, had never considered the advantages of having a carpenter along on a wooden fishing boat. I love books that bring strong visual details of biblical reference to light. Whether the book is scientific, cultural, or historical, I find the background information to be quite enjoyable. This book is among the best I've seen that accomplshes this goal. Wachsmann and his collegues deserve a great deal of credit for making this artifact available to the world. This book is a great way to give those of us who cannot see it a strong introduction.
He is Jewish, but Wachsman approaches the connection of the boat with the gospels with respect. He is clear that the probability of this boat having any connection with Jesus is very small indeed (about 1/2000). He also raises the connection of the boat with a little known Roman naval battle that took place on the lake and recorded by Josephus. In all, the boat is unremarkable as we would expect it to be. But its age and the apparent level of its preservation is quite remarkable. The book becomes something of a small commentary on certain ideas surrounding Jesus and his fishermen apostles. I, for one, had never considered the advantages of having a carpenter along on a wooden fishing boat. I love books that bring strong visual details of biblical reference to light. Whether the book is scientific, cultural, or historical, I find the background information to be quite enjoyable. This book is among the best I've seen that accomplshes this goal. Wachsmann and his collegues deserve a great deal of credit for making this artifact available to the world. This book is a great way to give those of us who cannot see it a strong introduction.
August 20, 2026
I cannot remember why I bought this book. My first book detailing an archeological discovery and the process of saving, preserving and dating a find. I found that part of the book interesting but not overly entertaining.
What I really enjoyed was Shelley bringing the actual history of where the boat was discovered alive. As well as possible uses in that historical context for the boat. I also really enjoyed her descriptions of Pompeii and boats there. A different way to think about the time period found in the New Testament and described by Josephus.
What I really enjoyed was Shelley bringing the actual history of where the boat was discovered alive. As well as possible uses in that historical context for the boat. I also really enjoyed her descriptions of Pompeii and boats there. A different way to think about the time period found in the New Testament and described by Josephus.
May 9, 2025
I studied with Shelley and others mentioned in the book 2 decades ago. I read it back then and it's still one of my favorite books. It was so interesting that I read it in one sitting after losing sleep that night. It was like reading a thriller while giving an intimate insight into the science and history. I keep telling friends about it all the time.
May 19, 2013
The book is focused on the finding and preservations of one specific boat on The Sea of Galilee, or Kinneret. Most aspects of archaeological items were included in this attempt to restore the boat. These aspects included the finding, the difficulty of dealing with amateur treasure hunters, press reporting inaccuracies, logistical problems of extraction and transport, issues dealing with preservation, research, the difficulty of expressing finite conclusions, the desire to record and reconstruct parallel working examples, and the work that must be put into ongoing maintenance for display or preservation.
A history of the related time in terms of written histories and in terms of related archaeological findings is included to demonstrate as fully as possible the particular niche that this boat fit into in time.
The book is well written and is designed to appeal to anyone with the patience to pay attention to the messages. As a single topic subject describing work details and research, it may become difficult to finish over a long series of short readings, so does require persistence in the desire to acquire knowledge and relate to specific techniques or historical periods.
As further research, it would be worthwhile to follow up on the intervening years of research and display maintenance of this particular boat.
A history of the related time in terms of written histories and in terms of related archaeological findings is included to demonstrate as fully as possible the particular niche that this boat fit into in time.
The book is well written and is designed to appeal to anyone with the patience to pay attention to the messages. As a single topic subject describing work details and research, it may become difficult to finish over a long series of short readings, so does require persistence in the desire to acquire knowledge and relate to specific techniques or historical periods.
As further research, it would be worthwhile to follow up on the intervening years of research and display maintenance of this particular boat.
October 11, 2016
I saw this boat in person at the museum which now holds it. It was pretty inspiring and I was intrigued to learn more. Ran across this book title in my search and it did not disappoint. Besides being an interesting look at nautical archeology, something I knew nothing about, it also sheds light on the gospel stories of Jesus and on the fishing economy of the Sea of Galilee in the first century. Quite amazing that it was discovered after 2000 years due to being buried in mud and due to a severe drought that enabled it to be seen.
July 28, 2011
A good read - The author recounts how he and a team of Israeli archeologists painstakingly rescue a 2000 year old boat from the Kinneret mud...the tangents encountered and the trials & tribualations along the way make for quite an adventure you wouldn't have bargained for. A must for anyone interested in Biblical archaeology.
January 9, 2018
I have never read anything that describes the preservation process and I enjoyed. I also learned more about Jewish and Roman history. This book was easy to read and comprehend
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews