A coracle is a small, rounded, lightweight boat used for fishing and transport, with origins dating back thousands of years. It is traditionally made from a woven wood frame covered with a waterproof material. While most famously associated with Wales, similar vessels have been used by cultures worldwide. 
Construction and characteristics
Frame: The frame is constructed from a basketwork of woven saplings, such as willow or ash.
Waterproofing: Historically, the frame was covered with animal hide and sealed with a waterproofing agent like pitch. Modern coracles often use materials like painted canvas, calico, or fiberglass.
Shape: The boat's design is round or oval, with a flat bottom and no keel. This allows it to float on just a few inches of water, making it ideal for shallow streams and rivers.
Portability: A key feature is its extreme lightness. A single person can easily carry the boat on their back using a strap, a fact noted by Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC. A Welsh saying captures this: Llwyth dyn ei gorwgl ("the load of a man is his coracle").
Propulsion: The coracle is propelled with a single, broad-bladed paddle used in a sculling motion to create a figure-of-eight pattern in the water. 
Global history of similar vessels
Coracle-style boats were independently developed by different cultures across the globe. 
Mesopotamia: A 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet includes instructions for building a round vessel, or quffa, similar to modern Iraqi coracles.
Ancient Israel: Some scholars believe the papyrus basket in which the infant Moses was placed was a type of coracle or quffa.
India: On the Kaveri and Tungabhadra rivers, parisal coracles made of woven bamboo and tarred plastic are still in use today.
Native Americans: The Mandan people of North America constructed similar boats called bull boats, using bison hides stretched over a frame.
Vietnam: The thúng chai or thuyền thúng is a basket boat that has been used by Vietnamese fishermen for centuries. 
Uses in Britain
In Britain, coracles were vital for centuries, particularly in Wales and along the River Severn. 
Fishing: The most common use was fishing, often with two coracles working together to stretch a net across a river. The quiet, low profile of the boat does not disturb fish.
Transport: Coracles served as personal water taxis, ferrying people and goods across rivers as a quick and cheap alternative to traveling long distances to a bridge.
Poaching: Their quiet nature made them ideal for poachers hunting salmon and other prey at night.
Flood rescue: In times of flooding, coracle users were known for rescuing marooned people and animals.
Timber rafting: In the 18th century on the River Spey in Scotland, coracles were used to guide timber rafts downstream.
Coracle racing: Today, the use of coracles is primarily for leisure, and competitive racing is a popular pastime.