Unlocking the Serçe Limanı Forelock Bolt: An Archaeological–Mechanical Analysis of the Ubiquitous Maritime Fastener of Ancient Watercraft

Abstract

The forelock bolt was a ubiquitous joining technology employed by ancient shipwrights. Its systematic positioning in the Serçe Limanı ship (11th century CE) was the primary joining technology of its keelson-frames-keel assembly. This fact lends itself well to analyzing its engineering-technical properties, which were identical to those of modern bolts. The preload required to apply secure clamping force in the Serçe Limanı keelson-frames-keel backbone assemblage, was analyzed applying the physics of bolt technology. A structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was conducted on the bolt and, under laboratory conditions, was validated on a physical model. It was thus demonstrated that the bolt achieved the conditions needed to securely fasten the Serçe Limanı keel assemblage while serving as a means of efficient structural maintenance.