De Zuiderzee als transportlandschap: Historische maritieme archeologie van de turfvaart (1550-1700)

From the late Middle Ages up to its closure in 1932 the Zuiderzee harboured a substantial amount of trade routes for the daily transport of cargo in all directions. The inland skippers, although large in numbers, played a modest role in the Dutch maritime history, as their activities hardly left a significant trace in the paper archives. The main source of information of this maritime activity is the unique archaeological archive of more than 450 shipwrecks found in this area during land reclamation projects and recent dive investigations.

This thesis features a case study that highlights the significance of these archaeological ship finds in relation to the maritime trade of peat, the main source of energy for pre-modern economy. It explores the extent to which the spectacular socio-economic development of Holland between 1550 and 1700 AD can be attributed to the Zuiderzee functioning as a hub in an extensive maritime transport landscape. The transport of peat across this inner sea is addressed from different angles, ranging from macro-economic analyses to the reconstruction of the daily routines of peat skippers.

The historical maritime archaeology of peat shipping offers a new historic perspective to the maritime past of The Netherlands and may well serve as a framework for future research into shipwrecks and their interpretation in a historical context. This thesis contributes to a renewed appreciation for the unique cultural heritage that is still largely hidden in the seabed of the former Zuiderzee.