John D Littlefield, PhD, R.P.A. | Institute of Nautical Archaeology (original) (raw)
Forthcoming Papers by John D Littlefield, PhD, R.P.A.
Mariners Mirror, 2015
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi-submersible torpedo boat, proved to be an important innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians
superficially mention ‘Little David’ when discussing the historic attack of the Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L. Hunley. In this paper
construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel’s design through lines drawings.
Key words: CSS David, Little David, semi-submersible, torpedo, torpedo boat, torpedo ram, American Civil War, Confederate navy
The American Civil War saw the need and opportunity for many innovations in naval warfare. This w... more The American Civil War saw the need and opportunity for many innovations in naval warfare. This was especially true of the Confederate States in their attempts to secede due to the lack of existing vessels and materials to construct new vessels. One such innovation was the development of the torpedo. Torpedo warfare of a static nature was being explored by the southern states throughout the early stages of the war, but successes were few prior to the development of a vessel specifically designed to deliver the new torpedo. The design of CSS 'David', a semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be such a vessel. The original 'David', of which at least 17 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull. 'David' became a generic name for most confederate submersible and semi-submersibles, much as monitor became a generically used name for a class of vessels.
This paper will describe the class of vessels based on recently published material pertaining to 'David' along with other relevant primary sources and a limited number of images of the vessels in an effort to better understand the 'David'-class of vessels as well as to attempt to quantify the number of vessels produced and discern their last known locations for potential future archaeological survey.
Papers by John D Littlefield, PhD, R.P.A.
The Mariner's Mirror, 2015
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi-submersible torpedo boat, proved to be an important innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians superficially mention ‘Little David’ when discussing the historic attack of the Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L. Hunley. In this paper construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat's builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel's design through lines drawings.
Society for Historical Archaeology, 2014
"Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in nava... more "Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval warfare. The design of the CSS David semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important innovation as it spurred the subsequent development of both the modern torpedo and the submarine. The original David, of which at least 18 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull, yet the story of the “Little David” remains obscure. Even less is known about the design and construction of the vessel. As a result of published second and third party accounts, and a lack of surviving written records, few published details of David’s origin and history exist. Of those that do, they are often conflicting with detailed provided by the boat’s claimed builder. This paper will describe the construction details of David based primarily on little known published memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, with additions from the boat’s engineer, J. H. Tomb, and other relevant primary sources, while simultaneously identifying the original torpedo boat in photographic form for comparison to other images of the vessel as a point of departure for discussing the construction of this unique vessel. "
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 2013
This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing prim... more This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing primarily on two case studies from central Anatolia, the Göksu Archaeological Project and the Avkat Archaeological Project. The methodology employed allows for expediency and accuracy in data recording, which enables refined analyses of anthropogenic and environmental phenomena. The approaches outlined in this article allowed the investigators to move from field observation to publication quality results within a single field day, usually within a four-hour window from initial field observation. The techniques described in the article are some of the geoinformatic applications that classical archaeology is implementing increasingly to develop a robust archaeoinformatic tool kit.
The American Civil war saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil war saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi·submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important
innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians superficially mention 'Little David' when discussing the historic attack of the
Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly
concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L Hunley. In this paper construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat's builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel's design through lines drawings.
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, Jan 29, 2013
This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing prim... more This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing primarily on two case studies from central Anatolia, the Göksu Archaeological Project and the Avkat Archaeological Project. The methodology employed allows for expediency and accuracy in data recording, which enables refined analyses of anthropogenic and environmental phenomena. The approaches outlined in this article allowed the investigators to move from field observation to publication quality results within a single field day, usually within a four-hour window from initial field observation. The techniques described in the article are some of the geoinformatic applications that classical archaeology is implementing increasingly to develop a robust archaeoinformatic tool kit.
ABSTRACT At least 64 shipwrecked stone transports have been discovered throughout the Medite... more ABSTRACT
At least 64 shipwrecked stone transports have been discovered throughout the Mediterranean region dating primarily to the Roman period. Few have been excavated and even fewer have had more than scant hull remains recovered. None have been thoroughly examined with a focus on the construction of the vessel. Consequently, little is known about stone transport or the construction of stone transport ships from archaeological contexts or ancient historical sources.
In 1993, on an Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) shipwreck survey along the western Turkish coast, the Kızılburun column wreck was discovered. At present, excavated ceramics suggest the date of the Kızılburun shipwreck lies in the first century B.C.E.; the Late Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE). Analyses of the marble consignment have revealed that the ship carried a primary cargo of architectural elements quarried on the island of Proconnesus. Subsequent investigations point to a likely destination of the ancient city of Claros on the Karian coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
Between 2005 and 2011 excavations were carried out on the column wreck by an international team of archaeologists, INA staff members, and graduate students led by Donny Hamilton and Deborah Carlson, both of Texas A&M University. The 2005 excavation season produced the first, albeit scant, hull remains, with more timbers being recovered between 2006 and 2009. The most substantial hull remains were recovered in 2007 following the removal of the eight large marble column drums to a more remote part of the site. The intense weight and pressure exerted by the heavy cargo on the hull remains aided the preservation by creating an environment that was unfavorable for wood consuming organisms and other biological agents.
Recording and detailed examination of the hull remains was conducted during the summer of 2008, fall of 2009, and fall of 2010. This thesis presents the analyses and interpretation of the Kızılburun ship’s wooden hull remains and copper fasteners. Additionally, after discussing the methods of recording and cataloging of the ship’s extant remains, I place the ship in its historical and technological contexts, demonstrating that it was of contemporaneously common dimensions and construction, as opposed to a more robust construction that is often assumed of ancient stone-carrying vessels.
In 1993, a survey team from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University... more In 1993, a survey team from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University discovered five shipwrecks off the southwest Turkish coast. The sites lie off the Karaburun peninsula, south of Izmir, at what is now called Kızılburun or “Crimson Cape.” Of the five shipwrecks, one was of particular interest due to the nature of the cargo; marble architectural components of the Doric order. This wreck is commonly referred to as the Kızılburun Column Wreck and was chosen for study as it holds potential to answer questions about the lading and construction of ships with stone cargoes prior to the Imperial Roman period.
The wreck is a Late Hellenistic ship, of the 1st century BC, with a main cargo consisting of eight large Doric order column drums and capital, with various other marble pieces. The combined weight of the cargo is at least 50 tons. Excavation began, under the direction of Donny Hamilton and Deborah Carlson, in 2005 and has been ongoing, with 2009 being the final excavation season.
Recording and analysis of the hull remains were begun in 2008 and is ongoing. At least one more season of recording is required before all remains are cataloged, thus, this is a preliminary report.
Overall, the wooden hull remains are sparse, friable, fragmented and discontinuous. The dearth of remains forced modifications to typical hull recording methods. J. Richard Steffy penned an article titled Maximum Results from Minimal Remains (1978), from which the sub-title of this presentation was borrowed. Steffy emphasized the need to closely study even the most scant ship remains where large questions loom over construction techniques or general ships features. With the Steffy philosophy in mind and by using the information gleaned from the fasteners, artifact positioning and 3D modeling, in addition to the extant wood remains, a better, yet still incomplete, understanding of the Kızılburun Column Wreck’s hull is nascent and this preliminary report holds potential to shed light on stone carrying ships of the Late Hellenistic period, if not the Roman navis lapidaria.
Talks by John D Littlefield, PhD, R.P.A.
Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval w... more Abstract
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval warfare. The design of the CSS David semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important innovation as it spurred the subsequent development of both the modern torpedo and the submarine. The original David, of which at least 18 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull, yet the story of the “Little David” remains obscure. Even less is known about the design and construction of the vessel. As a result of published second and third party accounts, and a lack of surviving written records, few published details of David’s origin and history exist. Of those that do, they are often conflicting with detailed provided by the boat’s claimed builder. This paper will describe the construction details of David based primarily on little known published memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, with additions from the boat’s engineer, J. H. Tomb, and other relevant primary sources, while simultaneously identifying the original torpedo boat in photographic form for comparison to other images of the vessel as a point of departure for discussing the construction of this unique vessel.
Mariners Mirror, 2015
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi-submersible torpedo boat, proved to be an important innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians
superficially mention ‘Little David’ when discussing the historic attack of the Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L. Hunley. In this paper
construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel’s design through lines drawings.
Key words: CSS David, Little David, semi-submersible, torpedo, torpedo boat, torpedo ram, American Civil War, Confederate navy
The American Civil War saw the need and opportunity for many innovations in naval warfare. This w... more The American Civil War saw the need and opportunity for many innovations in naval warfare. This was especially true of the Confederate States in their attempts to secede due to the lack of existing vessels and materials to construct new vessels. One such innovation was the development of the torpedo. Torpedo warfare of a static nature was being explored by the southern states throughout the early stages of the war, but successes were few prior to the development of a vessel specifically designed to deliver the new torpedo. The design of CSS 'David', a semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be such a vessel. The original 'David', of which at least 17 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull. 'David' became a generic name for most confederate submersible and semi-submersibles, much as monitor became a generically used name for a class of vessels.
This paper will describe the class of vessels based on recently published material pertaining to 'David' along with other relevant primary sources and a limited number of images of the vessels in an effort to better understand the 'David'-class of vessels as well as to attempt to quantify the number of vessels produced and discern their last known locations for potential future archaeological survey.
The Mariner's Mirror, 2015
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi-submersible torpedo boat, proved to be an important innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians superficially mention ‘Little David’ when discussing the historic attack of the Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L. Hunley. In this paper construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat's builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel's design through lines drawings.
Society for Historical Archaeology, 2014
"Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in nava... more "Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval warfare. The design of the CSS David semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important innovation as it spurred the subsequent development of both the modern torpedo and the submarine. The original David, of which at least 18 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull, yet the story of the “Little David” remains obscure. Even less is known about the design and construction of the vessel. As a result of published second and third party accounts, and a lack of surviving written records, few published details of David’s origin and history exist. Of those that do, they are often conflicting with detailed provided by the boat’s claimed builder. This paper will describe the construction details of David based primarily on little known published memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, with additions from the boat’s engineer, J. H. Tomb, and other relevant primary sources, while simultaneously identifying the original torpedo boat in photographic form for comparison to other images of the vessel as a point of departure for discussing the construction of this unique vessel. "
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 2013
This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing prim... more This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing primarily on two case studies from central Anatolia, the Göksu Archaeological Project and the Avkat Archaeological Project. The methodology employed allows for expediency and accuracy in data recording, which enables refined analyses of anthropogenic and environmental phenomena. The approaches outlined in this article allowed the investigators to move from field observation to publication quality results within a single field day, usually within a four-hour window from initial field observation. The techniques described in the article are some of the geoinformatic applications that classical archaeology is implementing increasingly to develop a robust archaeoinformatic tool kit.
The American Civil war saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval war... more The American Civil war saw the need for many quickly conceived experimental projects in naval warfare. CSS David, a semi·submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important
innovation as it spurred development of both the modern torpedo and submarine. Historians superficially mention 'Little David' when discussing the historic attack of the
Union blockader New Ironsides on 5 October 1863, in which David became the first vessel to explode a torpedo against the hull of an enemy ship, yet details of David, particularly
concerning construction features, are rare, unreliable, and often confused with the submarine H. L Hunley. In this paper construction details of David, largely based on memoirs of the boat's builder, David C. Ebaugh, have been compiled and scrutinized to create a more accurate understanding of the vessel's design through lines drawings.
Cartography and Geographic Information Science, Jan 29, 2013
This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing prim... more This article explores the integration of GIS technology with archaeological survey, focusing primarily on two case studies from central Anatolia, the Göksu Archaeological Project and the Avkat Archaeological Project. The methodology employed allows for expediency and accuracy in data recording, which enables refined analyses of anthropogenic and environmental phenomena. The approaches outlined in this article allowed the investigators to move from field observation to publication quality results within a single field day, usually within a four-hour window from initial field observation. The techniques described in the article are some of the geoinformatic applications that classical archaeology is implementing increasingly to develop a robust archaeoinformatic tool kit.
ABSTRACT At least 64 shipwrecked stone transports have been discovered throughout the Medite... more ABSTRACT
At least 64 shipwrecked stone transports have been discovered throughout the Mediterranean region dating primarily to the Roman period. Few have been excavated and even fewer have had more than scant hull remains recovered. None have been thoroughly examined with a focus on the construction of the vessel. Consequently, little is known about stone transport or the construction of stone transport ships from archaeological contexts or ancient historical sources.
In 1993, on an Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) shipwreck survey along the western Turkish coast, the Kızılburun column wreck was discovered. At present, excavated ceramics suggest the date of the Kızılburun shipwreck lies in the first century B.C.E.; the Late Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE). Analyses of the marble consignment have revealed that the ship carried a primary cargo of architectural elements quarried on the island of Proconnesus. Subsequent investigations point to a likely destination of the ancient city of Claros on the Karian coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
Between 2005 and 2011 excavations were carried out on the column wreck by an international team of archaeologists, INA staff members, and graduate students led by Donny Hamilton and Deborah Carlson, both of Texas A&M University. The 2005 excavation season produced the first, albeit scant, hull remains, with more timbers being recovered between 2006 and 2009. The most substantial hull remains were recovered in 2007 following the removal of the eight large marble column drums to a more remote part of the site. The intense weight and pressure exerted by the heavy cargo on the hull remains aided the preservation by creating an environment that was unfavorable for wood consuming organisms and other biological agents.
Recording and detailed examination of the hull remains was conducted during the summer of 2008, fall of 2009, and fall of 2010. This thesis presents the analyses and interpretation of the Kızılburun ship’s wooden hull remains and copper fasteners. Additionally, after discussing the methods of recording and cataloging of the ship’s extant remains, I place the ship in its historical and technological contexts, demonstrating that it was of contemporaneously common dimensions and construction, as opposed to a more robust construction that is often assumed of ancient stone-carrying vessels.
In 1993, a survey team from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University... more In 1993, a survey team from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University discovered five shipwrecks off the southwest Turkish coast. The sites lie off the Karaburun peninsula, south of Izmir, at what is now called Kızılburun or “Crimson Cape.” Of the five shipwrecks, one was of particular interest due to the nature of the cargo; marble architectural components of the Doric order. This wreck is commonly referred to as the Kızılburun Column Wreck and was chosen for study as it holds potential to answer questions about the lading and construction of ships with stone cargoes prior to the Imperial Roman period.
The wreck is a Late Hellenistic ship, of the 1st century BC, with a main cargo consisting of eight large Doric order column drums and capital, with various other marble pieces. The combined weight of the cargo is at least 50 tons. Excavation began, under the direction of Donny Hamilton and Deborah Carlson, in 2005 and has been ongoing, with 2009 being the final excavation season.
Recording and analysis of the hull remains were begun in 2008 and is ongoing. At least one more season of recording is required before all remains are cataloged, thus, this is a preliminary report.
Overall, the wooden hull remains are sparse, friable, fragmented and discontinuous. The dearth of remains forced modifications to typical hull recording methods. J. Richard Steffy penned an article titled Maximum Results from Minimal Remains (1978), from which the sub-title of this presentation was borrowed. Steffy emphasized the need to closely study even the most scant ship remains where large questions loom over construction techniques or general ships features. With the Steffy philosophy in mind and by using the information gleaned from the fasteners, artifact positioning and 3D modeling, in addition to the extant wood remains, a better, yet still incomplete, understanding of the Kızılburun Column Wreck’s hull is nascent and this preliminary report holds potential to shed light on stone carrying ships of the Late Hellenistic period, if not the Roman navis lapidaria.
Abstract The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval w... more Abstract
The American Civil War saw the need for many quickly conceived innovations in naval warfare. The design of the CSS David semi-submersible torpedo boat proved to be an important innovation as it spurred the subsequent development of both the modern torpedo and the submarine. The original David, of which at least 18 other versions were based, was the first vessel to successfully explode a torpedo against an enemy warship’s hull, yet the story of the “Little David” remains obscure. Even less is known about the design and construction of the vessel. As a result of published second and third party accounts, and a lack of surviving written records, few published details of David’s origin and history exist. Of those that do, they are often conflicting with detailed provided by the boat’s claimed builder. This paper will describe the construction details of David based primarily on little known published memoirs of the boat’s builder, David C. Ebaugh, with additions from the boat’s engineer, J. H. Tomb, and other relevant primary sources, while simultaneously identifying the original torpedo boat in photographic form for comparison to other images of the vessel as a point of departure for discussing the construction of this unique vessel.