When we find pieces of textile lying on the ice in the Lendbreen pass, they are dirty and often don't look like much. But once we get them to the lab, something amazing can happen🙂

When the archaeological conservator at @Kulturhistorisk has worked wonders a very nice diamond twill pattern emerges😍 The radiocarbon date reveals that our piece of textile is from the 9th century AD - the Early Viking Age🙂

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk Amazing, would this have been made on a loom?

@heidimud @Kulturhistorisk Yes, it would.

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk That’s amazing

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk Wow, I am blown away, to be looking at something worn so long ago is mind blowing

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk Love these close ups. Reminds me of the carefully laid stacks of cut peat that were once common in Orkney. After a few months of winter weather and raiding to fuel the fire the tops of the stacks would look a bit battered whilst the lower courses were still almost pristine

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk Truly impressive

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk The brown thread looks like human hair.

@brearkeologi @Kulturhistorisk Love the whip stitched hem! So cool to see. This way of hemming can already be found in ancient Egypt.