FROM ISOLATED WORKERS TO STANDARDIZED PRODUCTION: THE EXAMPLE OF TEXTILE CRAFTWORK
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2020-10-28

Textile production during Bronze Age in Brittany and more generally in western France, remains a relatively few studied topic within the framework of archaeology with the exception of the last few decades. However, the great majority of textile remains listed in France for this period originate from this specific region. The use of vegetable fibres (flax in particular) and the absence of animal fibres in the making of textile fabrics induce a situation that in a way contrasts with the rest of Europe where the presence of wool is more generally attested, especially with regard to nothern regions . Furthermore, recent excavations show a significant increase concerning production volumes between Middle Bronze Age (1650 - 1350 B.C.) and Early Iron Age (800 - 450 B.C.), as well as a complex productive framework that can not only be related to a simple domestic craftwork. Manufacturing structures evolution, standardization and improvement of weaving tolls not only show an increase of produced volumes and a change concerning weaving practices but also a specialisation of craft workers. Global and interdisciplinary approach currently offers us a new vision of textile “chaîne opératoire” and of its evolution, regarding the weaving structures conception, the techniques they depend on until final products.


Author(s): Penisson, Roxane (Université Rennes 2) - Cocoual, Antoine (W3D’s)