"It's all in the mind" - A discussion of the cultural and cognitive dimensions of technology in relation to building replicas of historic or traditional small craft

"If the dilemma in ship restoration lies between a Wreck and a Replica, many will opt for the Replica. However the French Anthropologist Lemmonier defines technology and the resultant artifact as much a product of the culture that produces it as the technology employed. When engaging in a project for a replica, how much can we, or should we attempt to replicate, or at least respect, the culture that created it as well as the artifact?" This paper attempts to examine some of the issues involved including; the effect of changing cultural values on technology, aspects of cognative technology and design, the skills of the master craftsman of "Hand and Eye", traditional materials, and the conflict between modern regulations such as CE mark and traditional wisdom and experience.