Eva Andersson Strand

Old Textiles – New Possibilities

AbstractTextile research has become an important field of archaeology. Although the established analytical methods are often viewed as specialized, their integration with other interdisciplinary approaches allows us to deal with broader archaeological issues and provides the interpretational base for a much more comprehensive investigation of textiles in ancient times. Analyses of fibres, Together, these approaches can provide new knowledge about textile production and consumption and, thereby, about people and society in ancient times. dyes, archaeobotanical and archaeozoological remains, as well as palaeoenvironmental and geochemical investigations, provide information about available resources, while tool studies, experimental testing, and visual grouping are approaches that explore the technology and techniques.

Capturing Our Cultural Intangible Textile Heritage, MoCap and Craft Technology

Textile craft and textile design have always had an important social, cultural and economic impact on both individuals and societies. The cultural heritage of textiles does not end with the preservation and collection of costumes and other textiles in museums. It also includes living traditions inherited from our ancestors. Furthermore, understanding craft and craft processes are crucial when considering both past societies and the cultural heritage of humankind. The study of intangible processes, hidden within archaeological objects, crafts, action and activities as well as cognitive processes, involves both practical and theoretical considerations. Today, computer applications such as Motion Capture can enhance our knowledge of the complexity and variety of artifacts, their production, and how various craft traditions develop over time, yielding new insights and perspectives applicable to ancient societies as well as to traditional craft today.

Mise en œuvre d’une approche globale des textiles anciens au Centre de recherche sur les textiles de Copenhague

La recherche scandinave sur les textiles, qui s’appuie sur les traditions de l’archeologie experimentale, a beneficie de l’excellent etat de conservation des textiles anciens. L’article evoque tout d’abord les origines de la discipline au xixe siecle et decrit son evolution. Les disciplines concernees par les recherches actuelles sont ensuite etudiees sous l’angle des nouvelles methodologies, des sources et de la collaboration entre chercheurs, ce qui permet de discuter les fondements theoriques de l’investigation. Le Centre de recherche sur les textiles (CTR) a developpe des traditions et des reseaux de recherche etablis en apportant ses propres innovations. Il a notamment contribue a consolider le champ d’etudes en encourageant l’interdisciplinarite et les nouvelles methodes d’enseignement et de recherche. Les etudes sur les textiles s’ancrent desormais dans diverses disciplines qui touchent aux humanities et aux sciences sociales, ainsi qu’aux sciences de la nature. De nouvelles questions sont posees, donnant naissance a de nouvelles reflexions. En conclusion, nous abordons les orientations futures a l’attention des prochaines generations de chercheurs confrontes a de nouveaux cadres theoriques et a l’accumulation croissante de donnees sur les textiles.