ABOUT THE BOOK After an introduction to the topic of maritime archaeology and an account of the way maritime archaeologists work, Seaacute;n McGrail describes the building and use of rafts, boats and ships in north-west Europe up to about 1500. The evidence for early sea voyages and for navigation without instruments is surveyed and there follows a summary of present knowledge about early water transport in the Mediterranean, Arabia, India, south-east Asia, China, Australia, the south Pacific and the Americas. There is a glossary of technical terms, a list of places to visit and guidance on further reading. This volume is a revised and expanded version of Ancient Boats, first published in the Shire Archaeology series in 1983. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Seaacute;n McGrail served in the Royal Navy from 1946 to 1968, the last sixteen years as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, and qualified as a Master Mariner. Since 1993 he has been Visiting Professor at the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, University of Southampton