From Wool to Warp and Weft: Approaching Ancient Greek Textile Work through Experimental Archaeology

Abstract

Due to the perishable nature of the work performed by women throughout much of ancient history, little physical evidence survives to study directly. This research is an exploration of the process of wool-working employed by the Greek women of the fourth and fifth centuries B.C.E. Through both academic research and hands-on experimental archaeology, the steps of wool fibre processing were examined and re-created. The aim of this project was twofold. The first goal was to follow the life cycle of sheep wool from a raw fleece to a finished piece of cloth and learn about the practical aspects and history of textile work. The second goal was to reveal the social implications of this domestic work and the role it played in the social lives of the people who performed it.