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From Fleece to Thread : Interdisciplinary Evidence for the Origins of Sheep Wool

Viñas-Caron, Laura C. ; Nørtoft, Mikkel ; Flemestad, Peder LU orcid ; Jæger, Jonas Holm and Margariti, Christina (2024) In New Approaches in Archaeology 3. p.33-60
Abstract
Sheep wool was used in the production of textiles across Europe from prehistoric times onwards, but its origins remain unclear. Textiles are rarely preserved in the archaeological record, but further indirect evidence supports their use, such as the study of textile tools, osteology, and terminology. Moreover, new analytical methods, such as protein and DNA analysis, enable the identification of wool fibres and the study of their genetic history. Although limited by fibre degradation, these methods offer valuable insights into the ancient use of wool. In this article, we combine the evidence from these complementary approaches: archaeological textiles and tools, osteological remains, terminology and historical linguistics, and proteomics... (More)
Sheep wool was used in the production of textiles across Europe from prehistoric times onwards, but its origins remain unclear. Textiles are rarely preserved in the archaeological record, but further indirect evidence supports their use, such as the study of textile tools, osteology, and terminology. Moreover, new analytical methods, such as protein and DNA analysis, enable the identification of wool fibres and the study of their genetic history. Although limited by fibre degradation, these methods offer valuable insights into the ancient use of wool. In this article, we combine the evidence from these complementary approaches: archaeological textiles and tools, osteological remains, terminology and historical linguistics, and proteomics and genomics, and propose a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective on the origins of wool production and suggest directions for future research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
sheep, wool, fibre degradation, proteomics, aDNA, erminology, etymology, historical linguistics
host publication
The Common Thread : Collected Essays in Honour of Eva Andersson Strand - Collected Essays in Honour of Eva Andersson Strand
series title
New Approaches in Archaeology
editor
Mannering, Ulla ; Nosch, Marie-Louise and Drewsen, Anne
volume
3
pages
33 - 60
publisher
Brepols Publishers
ISBN
978-2-503-61278-2
978-2-503-61277-5
DOI
10.1484/M.NAA-EB.5.141753
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3e7d6bfb-fba1-490e-bca3-fd962eaec257
date added to LUP
2023-01-31 18:58:52
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:05:45
@inbook{3e7d6bfb-fba1-490e-bca3-fd962eaec257,
  abstract     = {{Sheep wool was used in the production of textiles across Europe from prehistoric times onwards, but its origins remain unclear. Textiles are rarely preserved in the archaeological record, but further indirect evidence supports their use, such as the study of textile tools, osteology, and terminology. Moreover, new analytical methods, such as protein and DNA analysis, enable the identification of wool fibres and the study of their genetic history. Although limited by fibre degradation, these methods offer valuable insights into the ancient use of wool. In this article, we combine the evidence from these complementary approaches: archaeological textiles and tools, osteological remains, terminology and historical linguistics, and proteomics and genomics, and propose a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective on the origins of wool production and suggest directions for future research.}},
  author       = {{Viñas-Caron, Laura C. and Nørtoft, Mikkel and Flemestad, Peder and Jæger, Jonas Holm and Margariti, Christina}},
  booktitle    = {{The Common Thread : Collected Essays in Honour of Eva Andersson Strand}},
  editor       = {{Mannering, Ulla and Nosch, Marie-Louise and Drewsen, Anne}},
  isbn         = {{978-2-503-61278-2}},
  keywords     = {{sheep; wool; fibre degradation; proteomics; aDNA; erminology; etymology; historical linguistics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{33--60}},
  publisher    = {{Brepols Publishers}},
  series       = {{New Approaches in Archaeology}},
  title        = {{From Fleece to Thread : Interdisciplinary Evidence for the Origins of Sheep Wool}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1484/M.NAA-EB.5.141753}},
  doi          = {{10.1484/M.NAA-EB.5.141753}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}