Die Farben und Färbetechniken der prähistorischen Textilien aus dem Salzbergbau Hallstatt / The colours and dyeing techniques of prehistoric textiles from the salt mines of Hallstatt

Regina Hofmann-de Keijzer, Maarten R. van Bommel, Ineke Joosten, Anna Hartl, Art Néss Proaño Gaibor, Andreas G. Heiss, Robert Kralofsky, Rudolf Erlach, Suzan de Groot

Publications: Contribution to bookChapter

Abstract

The preservation of woollen textiles in the prehistoric salt mines of Hallstatt is a lucky chance for the study of prehistoric textile dyeing. The Hallstatt textiles collection of the Department of Prehistory at the Natural History Museum Vienna shows the creativity of the prehistoric people. Already in the Bronze Age, the main materials for wool dyeing had been discovered: Woad served as indigo plant for dyeing blue, and rhizomes of Rubiaceae for dyeing red. Plants provided dyes for yellow and tannins for black. Out of the 12 analysed samples from 11 Bronze Age textile fragments, 9 are dyed and 3 are probably dyed. In textile fragments of the Hallstatt Period a greater number of yellow dyes were detected pointing to the use of plants which up to now had not been known for the Bronze Age. Green was dyed through combining woad blue with yellow. The palette of reds seems to be expanded through the use of dye insects and lichens. Frequently, woad blue was combined with other dyes and tannins to achieve dark blues. They went perfectly together with clasps, belts and necklaces made of shiny bronze. Out of the 67 analysed samples from 49 Iron Age textile fragments, 42 were dyed, 8 were probably dyed and 17 probably not dyed.
Original languageMultiple languages
Title of host publicationTextiles from Hallstatt
Subtitle of host publicationGewebte Kultur aus dem bronze- und eisenzeitlichen Salzbergwerk / Weaving Culture in Bronze Age and Iron Age Salt Mines
EditorsKarina Grömer, Anton Kern, Hans Reschreiter, Helga Rösel-Mautendorfer, Wolfgang Meid
Place of PublicationBudapest
PublisherThe Archaeolingua Foundation
Pages135-162
Number of pages28
ISBN (Print)978-963-9911-46-8
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Publication series

SeriesArchaeolingua
Volume29

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 601003 Archaeology
  • 106008 Botany
  • 104002 Analytical chemistry
  • 107001 Archaeometry

Keywords

  • chemical analysis archaeobotany Natural Dyes Bronze Age archaeology Iron Age HPLC-PDA REM-EDX

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