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Ancient Egyptian Boats Discovered Humans have used simple watercraft for tens of thousands of years. Simple dugout canoes and rafts are limited in size and their ability to carry cargo. Boats built of wooden planks can be much larger. Exactly when people invented plank construction is not know, but recently a fleet of at least 13 Egyptian boats was discovered. At 5000 years, these are the oldest such boats discovered so far. The boats seem to be associated with the burial of a ruler, perhaps Pharaoh Djer of the first dynasty. Over the next several years, additional boats will be excavated.
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