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Richard Steffy
John Richard Steffy (May 1, 1924 Lancaster, Pennsylvania - November 29, 2007 Bryan, Texas) was an American nautical archaeologist.
He attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He taught at University of Pennsylvania. He founded the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, with Michael L. Katzev, and George Bass.[2] He was Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University, and creator of the Ship Reconstruction Laboratory.
He married Lucille Koch Steffy, (died in 1991).
See: http://nauticalarch.org/about/key_figures/j_richard_steffy/
Address: College Station, Texas, United States
He attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He taught at University of Pennsylvania. He founded the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, with Michael L. Katzev, and George Bass.[2] He was Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University, and creator of the Ship Reconstruction Laboratory.
He married Lucille Koch Steffy, (died in 1991).
See: http://nauticalarch.org/about/key_figures/j_richard_steffy/
Address: College Station, Texas, United States
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J. RICHARD STEFFY'S lifelong interest in ships and seafaring was directed toward nautical archaeology in the mid-1960s. Since then, he has been involved in numerous shipwreck excavation projects in Europe, Asia, and North America. His most recent research has been directed toward ancient and early medieval craft. He was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship in 1985 in recognition of his contributions to the field. He was the Sara W. and George O. Yamini Professor of Nautical Archaeology, Emeritus, at Texas A&M University and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.
What Readers Are Saying:
" . . . a work that is both erudite and lively. Teeming with photographs and diagrams, Steffy's book details exactly how ancient vessels were built (with much more skill and sophistication than was previously thought) and how archaeologists and ship enthusiasts have deduced their information. Steffy's enthusiasm is infectious, as is his admiration for the shipbuilders of the past and the researchers of today."--Islands
"Steffy's work on analysis of construction and techniques for documentation, from gridding a located wreck to working on a reconstruction, is first class. . . . Highly recommended." --Choice
"Dick Steffy must be known by reputation, if not personally, throughout the world of nautical archaeology. This unassuming man's utterances about the archaeology of boats and all that entails demand attention, since he is one of those very rare persons who has applied a considerable practical talent and intellect to the understanding and reconstruction of ancient wrecks for over thirty years. Also during that time he has taught at the Texas A&M University. There is nothing quite like teaching for creating order out of the knowledge gained elsewhere. His conclusions and assessments are original and sound, unlike some writers who are uncertain purveyors of the work of others. . . . a quite remarkable and readable book on the subject of gleaning the maximum information from ancient wrecks. . . . Dick Steffy has created a book quite unlike any available. It is accessible to readers from every level of attainment without ever being simplistic. The book combines clarity, warmth of style and authoritative writing to such a degree that it must become a major work of reference." --International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, No. 3
"After decades of careful, diligent, single-minded devotion, during which he practically invented the field of scientific shipwreck reconstruction, Steffy has done what every academic pioneer should do (but most do not): he has set it all down in a book. . . . this book occupies a unique niche in the literature on wooden shipbuilding and ship archaeology." --The American Neptune
"The book has three parts, all superbly illustrated and fully referenced . . . this book is a surpassing achievement, and will be the basic text on ship and boat archaeology for years to come."--David Gibbons
" . . . the format and clear style should appeal to anyone with an interest in wooden ships."--Sea History
" . . . an awesome piece of scholarship that will, I think, take its place as a standard work in maritime history and archaeology. . . . Taken as a whole, this book is the nearest thing to an `ultimate glossary' of terminology pertaining to wooden ship construction I have encountered even in relation to other redoubtable sources . . . "--Journal of Field Archaeology
"What distinguishes this work from other classics in this field is the author's excellent interpretation of accumulated data. . . . a milestone in the progress of modern archaeology. . . . the text acts as a Rosetta Stone between archaeological description and the overall field of maritime history, adding a great deal of knowledge to a specialty which has heretofore sailed only the coastline of written texts."--Northern Mariner/Le Marin du Nord
". . . should be on the bookshelf of any archaeologist who works on the maritime side of his discipline or who teaches courses in the practical aspects of archaeological work. . . . In all, this is a thorough textbook, and good reading."--WoodenBoat
"Destined to become both a genre classic and a respected textbook, this work takes us through each historic era, from ancient Egypt to Federal America, illustrating each with one or more studied shipwrecks. . . . this book perfectly follows the highest level of academic paradigm, the format that we should demand from all writers and publishers of reference works."--Seaways' Ships in Scale
9 x 12, 112 pp.
53 b&w photos., 30 line drawings., Map.
Pub Date: 02/01/1991
Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series
In November, 1980, the eastern shallows of the Mediterranean near the village of Athlit, Israel, yielded a remarkable artifact of ancient military history: the bronze ram and connecting bow timbers of an oared warship. It was the first ram ever discovered and thus provided the first evidence for the warships hitherto known only through literary and iconographic references.
Recent archaeological studies have provided much information on merchant ships of antiquity, but the discovery of the Athlit ram now provides detailed evidence for the very different construction of warships. Experts on ancient naval construction and tactics, bronze casting methods and metallurgy, and classical symbols useful in determining the date and provenience of the ram have thoroughly studied every aspect of the ram and its timbers. Their research and conclusions are reported here in full.
Conclusions indicate that ancient shipwrights and armaments experts came up with an effective, if expensive, design for the ship's hull and ram. The strong hull of the ship was the actual weapon used against other ships; the half-ton bronze ram served as the warhead. A heavy ramming timber and side timbers gave the ship the necessary momentum for ramming. The blunt end of the three-finned ram would splinter and split an adversary's hull timbers and seams without bending, breaking off, or becoming stuck in the other hull.
Fully illustrated with detailed drawings, photographs, and radiographic images for a unique view of the ram, this volume is an invaluable record for anyone interested in classical art or military history and for those who specialize in the technology of ancient maritime construction and modern methods of investigation.
LIONEL CASSON has written extensively on ancient seafaring and is professor emeritus of classics at New York University.J. RICHARD STEFFY, an authority on ancient ship construction, is Sara W. and George O. Yamini Professor of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University.ELISHA LINDER is affiliated with the Center for Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel.
What Readers Are Saying:
"It was only a passing mention, buried in the addenda of Lionel Casson's monumental Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (1986), but it sent a wave of pride and excitement sweeping over me—a feeling no less than if I had discovered it myself. The first-ever bronze warship ram, completely intact. . . . for anyone fascinated by maritime archeology in general, and specifically by the Atlit ram, the book is worth every penny of its price and more."--David Brauner
"It was only a passing mention, buried in the addenda of Lionel Casson's monumental Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (1986), but it sent a wave of pride and excitement sweeping over me—a feeling no less than if I had discovered it myself. The first-ever bronze warship ram, completely intact. . . . for anyone fascinated by maritime archeology in general, and specifically by the Atlit ram, the book is worth every penny of its price and more." --David Brauner
"Lionel Casson's chapter on the ram and naval tactics is superb." --Explorers Journal
"One can only compare [Steffy's text] to a masterly lesson in anatomy: [it] is marked by extreme detail in its analysis, perfect clarity in its descriptions, and with great prudence in its interpretations." --Mariner's Mirror
" . . . Steffy, the world's expert in ancient Mediterranean nautical architecture, . . . undertakes this study in a model of thorough description, analysis, and deductions about how Hellenistic shipwrights constructed the bow of a vessel whose primary purpose was to serve as an `oar-driven torpedo' . . . Steffy's chapter provides the first solid insights into ancient Mediterranean warship construction. . . The discovery of the Athlit Ram, as presented in this monograph, contributes a very great deal to our knowledge of the second category of ancient Mediterranean ships." --SAS Bulletin
"Steffy's brilliant analysis of the hull construction based on the limited wooden remains of the hull, clearly demonstrates that these warships, tipped with massive bronze rams, were indeed the guided missiles of their age. . . . This is a beautifully produced volume . . . " --Journal of Near Eastern Studies
"Rarely has an artifact received such meticulous study by such eminently qualified scholars as in this tome. This book is a valuable contribution that ranks among the best written in the field of ancient seafaring." --American Neptune
"Discovered in 1980, its relatively swift excavation, preservation, study, and now full publication are a credit to those involved with the project from the outset. . . . a beautifully produced volume . . . " --Journal of Near Eastern Studies
The vessel is estimated to be 8.6 m long, 2.2 m wide, and about 85 cm deep. The stem has not been found, but the curved sternpost is preserved extensively. The keel, sided 7.2 cm and molded 6 cm, was protected by a false keel 2.1 cm thick. There were eight strakes of bottom planking on the port side (seven on the starboard side); a wale, side stake, and caprail completed the planking plan on each side. Planking was about 2.5 cm thick and was edge-joined by means of closely spaced mortise-and-tenon joints, each locked by a pair of tapered pegs.
Although the frames are not yet visible, the fastening pattern reveals that the framing plan consisted of floor timbers alternating with paired half-frames. Frames were fastened to planks with treenails and bronze nails. A through-beam penetrated the sides of the stern above the wales.
The Herculaneum boat is briefly compared with the Kinneret boat, a well-preserved hull recently excavated at Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel. Both boats are similar in size and dating.
J. RICHARD STEFFY'S lifelong interest in ships and seafaring was directed toward nautical archaeology in the mid-1960s. Since then, he has been involved in numerous shipwreck excavation projects in Europe, Asia, and North America. His most recent research has been directed toward ancient and early medieval craft. He was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship in 1985 in recognition of his contributions to the field. He was the Sara W. and George O. Yamini Professor of Nautical Archaeology, Emeritus, at Texas A&M University and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.
What Readers Are Saying:
" . . . a work that is both erudite and lively. Teeming with photographs and diagrams, Steffy's book details exactly how ancient vessels were built (with much more skill and sophistication than was previously thought) and how archaeologists and ship enthusiasts have deduced their information. Steffy's enthusiasm is infectious, as is his admiration for the shipbuilders of the past and the researchers of today."--Islands
"Steffy's work on analysis of construction and techniques for documentation, from gridding a located wreck to working on a reconstruction, is first class. . . . Highly recommended." --Choice
"Dick Steffy must be known by reputation, if not personally, throughout the world of nautical archaeology. This unassuming man's utterances about the archaeology of boats and all that entails demand attention, since he is one of those very rare persons who has applied a considerable practical talent and intellect to the understanding and reconstruction of ancient wrecks for over thirty years. Also during that time he has taught at the Texas A&M University. There is nothing quite like teaching for creating order out of the knowledge gained elsewhere. His conclusions and assessments are original and sound, unlike some writers who are uncertain purveyors of the work of others. . . . a quite remarkable and readable book on the subject of gleaning the maximum information from ancient wrecks. . . . Dick Steffy has created a book quite unlike any available. It is accessible to readers from every level of attainment without ever being simplistic. The book combines clarity, warmth of style and authoritative writing to such a degree that it must become a major work of reference." --International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, No. 3
"After decades of careful, diligent, single-minded devotion, during which he practically invented the field of scientific shipwreck reconstruction, Steffy has done what every academic pioneer should do (but most do not): he has set it all down in a book. . . . this book occupies a unique niche in the literature on wooden shipbuilding and ship archaeology." --The American Neptune
"The book has three parts, all superbly illustrated and fully referenced . . . this book is a surpassing achievement, and will be the basic text on ship and boat archaeology for years to come."--David Gibbons
" . . . the format and clear style should appeal to anyone with an interest in wooden ships."--Sea History
" . . . an awesome piece of scholarship that will, I think, take its place as a standard work in maritime history and archaeology. . . . Taken as a whole, this book is the nearest thing to an `ultimate glossary' of terminology pertaining to wooden ship construction I have encountered even in relation to other redoubtable sources . . . "--Journal of Field Archaeology
"What distinguishes this work from other classics in this field is the author's excellent interpretation of accumulated data. . . . a milestone in the progress of modern archaeology. . . . the text acts as a Rosetta Stone between archaeological description and the overall field of maritime history, adding a great deal of knowledge to a specialty which has heretofore sailed only the coastline of written texts."--Northern Mariner/Le Marin du Nord
". . . should be on the bookshelf of any archaeologist who works on the maritime side of his discipline or who teaches courses in the practical aspects of archaeological work. . . . In all, this is a thorough textbook, and good reading."--WoodenBoat
"Destined to become both a genre classic and a respected textbook, this work takes us through each historic era, from ancient Egypt to Federal America, illustrating each with one or more studied shipwrecks. . . . this book perfectly follows the highest level of academic paradigm, the format that we should demand from all writers and publishers of reference works."--Seaways' Ships in Scale
9 x 12, 112 pp.
53 b&w photos., 30 line drawings., Map.
Pub Date: 02/01/1991
Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series
In November, 1980, the eastern shallows of the Mediterranean near the village of Athlit, Israel, yielded a remarkable artifact of ancient military history: the bronze ram and connecting bow timbers of an oared warship. It was the first ram ever discovered and thus provided the first evidence for the warships hitherto known only through literary and iconographic references.
Recent archaeological studies have provided much information on merchant ships of antiquity, but the discovery of the Athlit ram now provides detailed evidence for the very different construction of warships. Experts on ancient naval construction and tactics, bronze casting methods and metallurgy, and classical symbols useful in determining the date and provenience of the ram have thoroughly studied every aspect of the ram and its timbers. Their research and conclusions are reported here in full.
Conclusions indicate that ancient shipwrights and armaments experts came up with an effective, if expensive, design for the ship's hull and ram. The strong hull of the ship was the actual weapon used against other ships; the half-ton bronze ram served as the warhead. A heavy ramming timber and side timbers gave the ship the necessary momentum for ramming. The blunt end of the three-finned ram would splinter and split an adversary's hull timbers and seams without bending, breaking off, or becoming stuck in the other hull.
Fully illustrated with detailed drawings, photographs, and radiographic images for a unique view of the ram, this volume is an invaluable record for anyone interested in classical art or military history and for those who specialize in the technology of ancient maritime construction and modern methods of investigation.
LIONEL CASSON has written extensively on ancient seafaring and is professor emeritus of classics at New York University.J. RICHARD STEFFY, an authority on ancient ship construction, is Sara W. and George O. Yamini Professor of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University.ELISHA LINDER is affiliated with the Center for Maritime Studies at the University of Haifa, Israel.
What Readers Are Saying:
"It was only a passing mention, buried in the addenda of Lionel Casson's monumental Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (1986), but it sent a wave of pride and excitement sweeping over me—a feeling no less than if I had discovered it myself. The first-ever bronze warship ram, completely intact. . . . for anyone fascinated by maritime archeology in general, and specifically by the Atlit ram, the book is worth every penny of its price and more."--David Brauner
"It was only a passing mention, buried in the addenda of Lionel Casson's monumental Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (1986), but it sent a wave of pride and excitement sweeping over me—a feeling no less than if I had discovered it myself. The first-ever bronze warship ram, completely intact. . . . for anyone fascinated by maritime archeology in general, and specifically by the Atlit ram, the book is worth every penny of its price and more." --David Brauner
"Lionel Casson's chapter on the ram and naval tactics is superb." --Explorers Journal
"One can only compare [Steffy's text] to a masterly lesson in anatomy: [it] is marked by extreme detail in its analysis, perfect clarity in its descriptions, and with great prudence in its interpretations." --Mariner's Mirror
" . . . Steffy, the world's expert in ancient Mediterranean nautical architecture, . . . undertakes this study in a model of thorough description, analysis, and deductions about how Hellenistic shipwrights constructed the bow of a vessel whose primary purpose was to serve as an `oar-driven torpedo' . . . Steffy's chapter provides the first solid insights into ancient Mediterranean warship construction. . . The discovery of the Athlit Ram, as presented in this monograph, contributes a very great deal to our knowledge of the second category of ancient Mediterranean ships." --SAS Bulletin
"Steffy's brilliant analysis of the hull construction based on the limited wooden remains of the hull, clearly demonstrates that these warships, tipped with massive bronze rams, were indeed the guided missiles of their age. . . . This is a beautifully produced volume . . . " --Journal of Near Eastern Studies
"Rarely has an artifact received such meticulous study by such eminently qualified scholars as in this tome. This book is a valuable contribution that ranks among the best written in the field of ancient seafaring." --American Neptune
"Discovered in 1980, its relatively swift excavation, preservation, study, and now full publication are a credit to those involved with the project from the outset. . . . a beautifully produced volume . . . " --Journal of Near Eastern Studies
The vessel is estimated to be 8.6 m long, 2.2 m wide, and about 85 cm deep. The stem has not been found, but the curved sternpost is preserved extensively. The keel, sided 7.2 cm and molded 6 cm, was protected by a false keel 2.1 cm thick. There were eight strakes of bottom planking on the port side (seven on the starboard side); a wale, side stake, and caprail completed the planking plan on each side. Planking was about 2.5 cm thick and was edge-joined by means of closely spaced mortise-and-tenon joints, each locked by a pair of tapered pegs.
Although the frames are not yet visible, the fastening pattern reveals that the framing plan consisted of floor timbers alternating with paired half-frames. Frames were fastened to planks with treenails and bronze nails. A through-beam penetrated the sides of the stern above the wales.
The Herculaneum boat is briefly compared with the Kinneret boat, a well-preserved hull recently excavated at Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Israel. Both boats are similar in size and dating.