Textile Production and Sheep Husbandry in Early Iron Age Rogaland

Lecture by Sigrid Vinje-Christensen

Abstract

Since their domestication, sheep have played an essential role in textile production, with their wool being a primary resource. The selective breeding of sheep has over time changed the compound of their wool, making it more suitable for textile production. The quality of the wool depends on sex, age, health, diet, where on the body the wool has grown, and what time of the year the wool is collected. The practice of sheep husbandry will therefore impact the production of textiles.

In Norway, textiles rarely survive in archaeological contexts, so the few examples preserved are very precious. Thus, a major question is how we can extract information without damaging the objects. This project is investigating how microscopy can be used to gather insights into the early stages of textile production and the relationship between human and sheep in Early Iron Age Rogaland. The project will emphasize the importance of knowing the sheep on an intimate level, as textile workers in the Early Iron Age would have needed knowledge about individual animals for optimal wool production.