Boatmen and theirCorporain the Great Ports of the Roman West (Second to Third Centuries AD)

Archaeological evidence reveals the critical role of small boatmen (nautae) in Roman ports, particularly in connecting maritime and fluvial navigation systems during the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD. These boatmen operated dozens or even hundreds of small boats that towed sea-going ships, transhipped cargo, and linked inner and outer harbors, as well as maritime and river ports. A notable example is the Arles-Rhône 3 boat, which sank in the Rhône while transporting stone, likely bound for the Camargue region. On its return journey, it may have carried imports to the river port of Arles, highlighting the integration of long-distance river navigation with maritime trade. Recent studies of ports like Ostia and Portus, led by Giulia Boetto, further support this understanding of Roman port operations.

Tran, N. (2020). Boatmen and theirCorporain the Great Ports of the Roman West (Second to Third Centuries AD). Roman Port Societies, 85–106. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108665278.004