Tigris (ship)

The Tigris was a reed boat built in 1977-1978 by the explorer Thor Heyerdahl. Heyerdahl constructed the Tigris with the aim of demonstrating that ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley could have established trade and migration links via the sea. The boat was built in Iraq using traditional methods and materials sourced locally, including reeds from the marshes of southern Iraq.

The Tigris sailed from Iraq through the Persian Gulf, around Oman, and into the Arabian Sea. Heyerdahl and his international crew intended to sail to Pakistan and then potentially to the Indus Valley civilization sites. However, due to political unrest and conflicts in the region, they were denied entry to several ports.

In protest against the proliferation of military activity and arms sales in the region, Heyerdahl intentionally burned the Tigris off the coast of Djibouti in the Red Sea in April 1978. This dramatic act was meant to draw attention to the dangers of ongoing conflicts and the need for peace and understanding. The journey of the Tigris, despite its premature end, provided valuable insights into ancient seafaring capabilities and the potential for inter-civilizational contact in the ancient world. The wreckage of the Tigris now lies at the bottom of the Red Sea.