Nettle as a distinct bronze age textile plant

C. Bergfjord, Ulla Mannering, K. M. Frei, M. Gleba, Annemette Bruselius Scharff, I. Skals, J. Heinemeier, M.-L. Nosch, B. Holst

    Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

    Abstract

    It is generally assumed that the production of plant fibre textiles in ancient Europe, especially woven textiles for
    clothing, was closely linked to the development of agriculture through the use of cultivated textile plants (flax,
    hemp). Here we present a new investigation of the 2800 year old Lusehøj Bronze Age Textile from Voldtofte,
    Denmark, which challenges this assumption. We show that the textile is made of imported nettle, most probably
    from the Kärnten-Steiermark region, an area which at the time had an otherwise established flax production. Our
    results thus suggest that the production of woven plant fibre textiles in Bronze Age Europe was based not only
    on cultivated textile plants but also on the targeted exploitation of wild plants. The Lusehøj find points to a
    hitherto unrecognized role of nettle as an important textile plant and suggests the need for a re-evaluation of
    textile production resource management in prehistoric Europe.
    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftScientific Reports
    Vol/bind2
    Udgave nummer664
    Sider (fra-til)1-4
    Antal sider4
    ISSN2045-2322
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 12 sep. 2012

    Kunstnerisk udviklingsvirksomhed (KUV)

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