Textile Fiber Microscopy

8Historic Fibers

8.1 Textile Fibers and History

Archeological textiles finds are rare. As it is difficult for textiles to survive over long periods of time, most of our information about clothing worn in the past derives from paintings or descriptive texts. Unless special conditions are present, fabrics created from plant and animal fibers (i.e. organic material) degrade in a short period of time. For example, the hot and arid environment of Ancient Egyptian tombs allowed the preservation of many different items for over 5000 years. The tombs, usually sealed against the outside air, provided a desiccated burial environment. In these sealed burial places, an anaerobic environment inhibited the destructive growth of bacteria. In addition to items preserved in sealed tombs, Egypt's hot and arid desert conditions (i.e. a microclimate) also led to the recovery of many archeologically valuable items. Additionally, waterlogged and frozen items have been preserved as the presence of water created an anaerobic environment [1].

When archeologists excavate newly discovered sites, often old graves, if they are lucky, items such as pottery, jewelry, and textiles are present. As textile items require special care, conservation techniques are usually followed in order to preserve the textile and prevent further damage. To properly identify these very rare finds, historical textile fibers undergo a thorough microscopic examination. Excavated items (i.e. material culture) provide historians with ...