Analyse of fabric from Female burial grave at Botarve 1:17, Fröjel sn, Gotland. Anl. 0014

Information from Archaeologist Dan Carlsson. Female burial from the 9th or 10th Century. The Cloth has been stuck to a knife and a knives sheath. It appears to be two different fabrics in different Technique.

Analyse

Number of fragments: 2
Measurements: largest fragment: ca 4x 3,5 cm- smallest. 1,5x 4 cm.
Material: Wool
Present colour: Brown (coulored from rust)
Technique: 2/2 twill - right diagonal
Thread count, warp: 18 tr/cm
Thread count, weft: 16 tr/cm
Spinning direction, warp: Z
Spinning direction, weft: Z

Comments

  Technique, Thread count, warp and Spinning direction are the same for both fragments. The cloth has bean pleated and looks a bit different from side to side. One side looks to have a thinner yarn. At a closer look it appears that it has exactly the same Thread count and Spinning direction as the other side.

  It is quite common that the threads on the upper side of the textile finds becomes more decomposed than the inner, protected side. Both fragments are taken from the same fabric.

  The fabric is of a very good quality. The yarn in warp and segments are fine woven without unevenness. The 2/2 twill diagonal are close to perfect. The fragments are analysed but not treated in anyway. They are stiff in there structure due to the preservation of metal salt. If the metal salt crystals are taken out of the cloth, the structure of the fabric will disappear. It should be kept dry and in the same circumstances as iron. The fabric is tender and should be handled with care.

Stockholm 2001-08-15
Eva Lundwall,
Konservator