The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Fleecewife on August 04, 2016, 12:59:44 am
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Did anyone watch 'Britains Pompeii' with Alice Roberts, last night repeated tonight. The whole programme was fascinating, but especially the textile section. Must Farm in the Fens is a late Bronze age site of a stilted village which was burnt down, but remarkably well preserved as everything fell into the water below and was rapidly covered and preserved by silt.
They found some woven textiles which were made of spun lime bast (the layer under the bark). The amazing piece was a large piece of fabric which had been folded, then charred by the fire. It then fell into the water, which quenched the fire, and it was preserved for 3,000 years. This piece which was linen was woven at 27 threads per cm, 80 epi :o. They found what looked like a broken spindle whorl with some singles still wrapped around it, as well as loom weights made of clay (which are not unusual on archaeological sites).
80 threads per inch - I've always been annoyed at film makers and re-enactors who dress their Bronze Age people in sackcloth with out even hemming along the edges. Must Farm shows just how skilled these people were at textile work.
There is also a bronze sword, which is still shiny.
I looked for the programme on iPlayer, but maybe it's too soon.
If you google Must Farm textiles you will get several articles which mention the textiles although I didn't find any other reference to the epi.
What really surprised me is that there were no animal fibres used. I'd been hoping to see sheep shears amongst the tools, but they weren't there.
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I haven't seen the programme yet but there has been plenty in local press and the blog on this as it isn't too far away. There were rumours of an impressive new site a while back and then the stories started to emerge. As you say it should change the way the times are portrayed in the future as it is now clear a lot of the crafts we love were already very accomplished all that time ago.
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I was born in the Fens so these people are my ancestors. I've seen no reports up here in Scotland in the general press which is a shame. It's still not available on iPlayer.
I'm surprised there's so little interest amongst our crafters at least. Oh well, not everyone is interested in the past.
Pharnorth, is it possible to visit the excavation site?
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Is this it?
http://www.mustfarm.com/progress/site-diary-6-textiles/ (http://www.mustfarm.com/progress/site-diary-6-textiles/)
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/latest-archaeological-finds-at-must-farm-provide-a-vivid-picture-of-everyday-life-in-the-bronze-age (http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/latest-archaeological-finds-at-must-farm-provide-a-vivid-picture-of-everyday-life-in-the-bronze-age)
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I haven't managed to watch it yet but am looking forward to seeing it
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Yes that is it Wbf. It is near Whittlesey Fleecewife. I don't think there are any plans to open the site itself to the public the land is owned by a quarry company and it has been a four year collaboration with CU so no doubt there has been some agreement on the future to make sure the excavation is complete or safeguarded. The items that have been catalogued will be displayed at Peterborough museum and other local museums. My guess is that if there is enough interest it will get its own exhibition.
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The links are good WBF - thanks.
Pharnorth, it mentions in one of the above articles that 2000 people have been taken around the site - the lucky ones. I won't be back in the area in the foreseeable future, so I'll just have to look at the piccies and read the reports :thumbsup:
I think it was Whittlesey that the train from Peterborough to Ely rushes past. Round about there there was an amazing colony of herons nesting in the trees right beside the line. The train was above the nests so you got a brilliant view of heron life. I was the only person who even looked ???
Let us know what you think Sally once you've had the chance to look at WBFs links. Unfortunately there's not all that much about the details of the textiles, which is why it would be wonderful to see them in reality.
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what will they do with the textiles then? They look in excellent condition btw, especially seeing they are 3000 years old :o
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They are and they aren't - the woven fabric was caught in the fire, so the cloth was charred, but then it fell into the water which doused the flames. I would imagine the charring would make the cloth brittle, so I don't know if they would be able to open it out. It would be wonderful if they could. I wonder if they are folded clothes or newly woven fabric for trade. The close-up of the linen fabric is stunning - 3000 years old. What skill to spin and weave such fine cloth.
There are two specialist textile conservators working on the textiles, so plenty of expertise. We'll just have to follow developments.
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My ex was/is mad about archaeology to the extent that family holidays were largely spent looking at ancient remains. This has put me totally off the whole subject although I did enjoy the fabric photos. Thanks for the link, WBF. Funnily enough, his father was from Whittlesey.
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Ive not seen anything about opening to the public but they may have had the odd day for locals and I missed it. I am south of Cambridge (hence not a fen dweller) so they may have just done it for the villages adjacent to the site. I'll keep a watch on the local press though and if anything it advertised I'll let you know.
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I have just caught up with this thread- the pictures of the textiles are amazing- I assume the thread was produced on drop or supported spindles, and then woven on a static loom made out of tree branches with weights on the warp to provide tension. I notice that it appears all the textiles are plant derived- was wool not commonly in use during the bronze age ? And indeed, had sheep/ goats been domesticated at that point? This gives such an insight into the skills and inginuity of our ancestors.
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There is evidence that they kept some domestic livestock and grew cereals and flax. Because they lived in a very watery environment I assume that plant fibres were closer to hand and the water could be used for retting. I too was surprised that there is no evidence of wool use - but maybe it hasn't been found yet, or wool rotted or burnt, where plants fibres didn't. I am finding this whole excavation a total wonder 8)
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There is a Facebook page must farm archeology which has lots of info on it but sadly will not be managed going forward as the project is winding up.
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Just watched the iPlayer programme. Wow that fabric is fine! :o
The programme talked about them herding livestock as well as growing cereal, but I'm not sure where the grazing lands would have been. The houses were on stilts on water; transport was by boat.
Altogether tantalizing. I shall read those other links for more.