“Aegean Bronze Age Textile Production Techniques – Spinning and Weaving.” This experimental Archaeology workshop, organized by the Department of Aegean Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw and the Biskupin Archaeological Museum, will take place in Warsaw.
The workshop will be organized and conducted by experienced archaeologists and researchers:
-Agata Ulanowska, PhD – a senior lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, archaeologist of the Aegean Bonze Age and experienced teacher in weaving techniques [http://www.archeo.uw.edu.pl/szablon.php?id=1207]
-Anna Grossman, MA – a head of the Research Department of the Biskupin Archaeological Museum, archaeologist and experienced technician in experimental spinning and weaving. She has been performed textile workshops in the Biskupin Archaeological Museum since 1980-ties, in order to popularize North European textile production techniques.
Place of venue
The workshop “AEGEAN BRONZE AGE TEXTILE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES – SPINNING AND WEAVING” will be conducted in the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw. A small textile workshop was set up in the Department of Aegean Archaeology in order to undertake experimental archaeology tests in weaving
http://www.archeo.uw.edu.pl/szablon.php?id=1208
In the tests conducted since 2011, mostly of exploratory character, experimental archaeology is applied as a teaching tool.
For the use of participants there are several spindles with spindle whorls (copies of the BA Aegean artifacts), several band looms, two warp-weighted looms of Scandinavian type, as well as several sets of loom weights, which are the copies of Aegean Bronze Age artifacts reconstructed by students.
Aim of the workshop
The main aim of the workshop “AEGEAN BRONZE AGE TEXTILE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES – SPINNING AND WEAVING” is to teach and practice the basic “body knowledge” of spinning and weaving. During 3 days the participants will be practically introduced into spinning and weaving techniques. The last, 4th day is devoted to visit a unique Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa (the Central Museum of Textile Production) in Łódź [http://www.muzeumwlokiennictwa.pl/].
Program
Day 1, June 23rd 2014 – Spindle-spinning
Introduction: Fibers used in the Aegean Bronze Age. Spindle-spinning technique. Parameters and functionality of spindle-whorls.
Activities: Spinning wool and flax (tow)
Day 2, June 24th 2014 – Weaving bands and starting borders. Loom with a rigid heddle
Introduction: Mechanics of weaving. Band looms and starting borders. The possible knowledge of the loom with a rigid heddle in the Aegean BA. Documentation of band weaving process.
Activities: Setting up and weaving bands and starting borders on a loom with a rigid heddle. Finishing.
Day 3, June 25th – Weaving on a warp-weighted loom
Introduction: Setting up the warp-weighted loom. Parameters and functionality of loom weights.
Documentation of weaving process, documentation of woven textiles.
Activities: Setting up the loom and weaving on the warp-weighted loom. Finishing
Day 4, June 26th 2014 – Excursion (by train) to the Centralne Muzeum Włókiennictwa (the Central Museum of Textile Production) in Łódź
Day 5-6, June 27-28th 2014 – Excursion (optional, by bus) to the Biskupin Archaeological Museum