Experts of a restoration laboratory in Cairo examined a piece of a wooden boat discovered during excavations near the Great Pyramid of Giza, revealing the first evidence for use of metal in boat construction by ancient Egyptians. The fragment contained circular and U-shaped metal hooks.

The piece of wood measures 8 metres in length and 40 centimetres in width and is 4 centimetres thick. No other ancient boat fragments discovered throughout Egypt have ever contained metal fittings in their frames. The U-shaped hooks were used to place the paddles to prevent friction of wood against wood. The fragments are believed to be a part of a solar boat – one of few buried in pits next to royal burial chambers and might have been used for Pharaohs funeral procession or designed for travels in the afterlife. These particular pieces of wood of a solar boat, date back to 2500 BC.

(after Daily Sabah & PhysOrg)