Page 145 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

CHAPTER 8

KNOTS AT SEA

Pieter van de Griend

Introduction

Even though knots were discovered and firmly established in their uses on
land at a very early date, the sea plays a significant role in their history.
In this chapter we shall view the phenomenon knot in the widest possible
perspective and see how Man's knotting traditions became affected after his
transition from (pure) land-dweller to Mariner. In the context of this chapter,
by Mariners I shall understand seafaring people who regularly venture out of
the sight of land. On a global scale this yields a wide spectrum, which may
range from ocean crossings by so-called primitive peoples [13], [14], [251, [26],
to contemporary off-shore fishing. With respect to time we shall be extremely
liberal: Mariners occur during all ages Man has been at sea.
Focussing on a single phenomenon, that of a knot, in the complex process
of Man's metamorphosis to Mariner and tracing it through all of times is
virtually impossible. There is an infinity of parameters which comes to affect
this development. However, the most important ones seem to be influenced
by the technological progresses achieved by Man. They directly affected his
ability to produce cordage and have eventually enabled him to venture beyond
the horizon via the development of ships and sail.
Physically speaking, knots depend entirely upon the existence of a medium
in which they can be realised, such as rope. Archaeological evidence leads to
the conclusion that even before palaeolithic times primitive man had acquired
the knowledge that fibres could be bundled together and intertwined to extend
the aggregate into much greater length, capable of sustaining a pulling force.
Certainly by neolithic times most peoples had struck upon a firm understand-

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