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During the last 15 years analyses by fibre diameter measurements of a wide range of yarn samples from Danish archaeological wool textiles dated from the Early Bronze to the Viking Ages (circa 1800 BCE to 1050 CE) have been made. The extraordinary preservation of these textiles makes them ideal for interpretations regarding wool fibre development and processing. The aim of this paper is to investigate possible changes in fibre quality through time that can be related to either differences in the raw wool or in the work process preparing the wool for spinning. The standard statistical calculations of the wool fibre diameters which form the basis for classifying prehistoric wool have been used but slightly elaborated to extract more detailed information and facilitate the interpretation of the collected data. The fibre qualities in the textiles from the different archaeological periods have been compared and the principles for wool development and processing assessed for each. The results have revealed that a similar kind of wool was used for a long period of time in the Danish area with only minor changes that could indicate adjustments of the production and processing to meet the demands for textile appearance. Further, the results show that a change took place in the textile fibre quality between circa 400 CE and 600 CE which indicates the introduction of a different sheep breed and processing strategy. In this way, new and more specific knowledge has been acquired about wool fibre development and the work, desires, and choices of prehistoric textile craftspeople through a long period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Zephyrus is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article briefly presents the history of textile archaeology in Slovakia, the foundations of which were laid out by Karol Pieta. With his scientific curiosity and hunger for the new adventures, Karol Pieta has been crossing the boundaries of his discipline his whole life. The conditions for the preservation of organic materials are generally very unfavourable, which is why they were often overlooked by archaeologists. Interest for textiles first started with remains hidden in tubular anklets dated to the La Tène Period, initially noticed and studied by Karol Pieta. The most unique ones come from Nové Zámky and shed light on an embroidery technique of the Late Iron Age. The majority of prehistoric textiles in Slovakia are dated to the La Tène Period and it is comparable with finds from the Czech Republic and Austria. A find from an unknown location analysed in 2021, can with certainty be assigned to the corpus of La Tène Period textiles. It can be assumed that linen tabbies made of simple z-spun threads were preferred in this period. Textiles were found in different circumstances, usually mineralised on metal artefacts in graves. The primary use of these textiles was for clothing and ritual wrappings. A secondary use is evidenced by textile fillings of bronze hollow anklets. A Celtic female dress was reconstructed based on the position of artefacts found in the graves, as well on the observations of La Tène Period textiles, in particular the Nové Zámky embroidery. It is interesting to see, that textiles were apparently used as a code to reflect social and aesthetic values. In society they played an important role in the definition and expression of social space and of group relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (NCG) possesses a small collection consisting of 13 fragments of Late Antique textiles from Egypt, possibly from the site of Akhmim. The collection primarily consists of cut-outs of decorative elements. The collection has until now not received much attention nor been thoroughly analysed. The present study seeks to remedy this neglect by performing fibre and dye analyses as well as including archival material from the museum collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of textile and fibre analysis of four textile fragments recovered during archaeological excavations at the site of Zawaydah, Naqada, in Upper Egypt. Although the main phase of the occupation at this site is ascribed to the Pre- and Protodynastic period (c. fourth millennium BC), the structural and fibre analyses of the textiles and the subsequent radiocarbon dating of two fragments provide evidence of later phases of site use, to be assigned to the Middle Kingdom, possibly the New Kingdom, and the Middle Ages (second millennium BC and second millennium AD). The article offers an insight into the Egyptian textiles of these latter time periods at the site, and highlights the importance of detailed structural and fibre analysis for acquiring dating information and informing the decisions to carry out further analyses, such as radiocarbon dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 3500 BC, an adult elephant was sacrificed and buried in the elite cemetery of Hierakonpolis in the very south of Egypt. The elephant was given a burial similar to humans including a linen shroud. This shroud is just one of an impressive number of textiles found at the site illustrating a range of uses. The textiles of the late prehistory in Egypt, the predynastic period, have not yet been thoroughly researched, and the linen of the elephant's shroud therefore presents a unique opportunity to consider the time used to produce it and the expertise of the spinners and weavers. The information from textile tools found at Hierakonpolis can now also be added to this story. The results of research into the elephant's shroud and the textile tools question our perception of prehistoric society in Egypt just before state formation, especially in relation to the organisation of textile production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article presents the methods employed and the results obtained in pollen studies of a prehistoric grave, identifying a fascinating and productive context for pollen analyses: prehistoric textiles. The methods involved direct sampling from the grave during excavation and various measures aimed at minimizing the risk of contamination, thereby maximising the information gained about various aspects of contemporary prehistoric life. The example used was an Iron Age grave from Hammerum, Denmark which was found to contain very well preserved clothing. The clothing and surrounding sediment were block excavated, providing a unique opportunity to collect samples for pollen analysis from both the textile material and from the underlying grave sediment. This allowed comparison of pollen assemblages from different components within the grave and an assessment of the method itself. The effort involved was rewarded with a set of results which permitted detailed interpretation. Large amounts of pollen of crops and associated anthropogenic plants in the textile sample suggest that agricultural work was the primary source of the pollen embedded in the clothing. In contrast, the pollen assemblages from the sediment samples very clearly reflected the surrounding local vegetation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]