Textile fibre preservation and statistical variation in burials : clothing evidence in Anglo-Saxon and Roman inhumations
This research challenges the archaeological record in at least three ways. Through the enquiry of thirteen selected case studies, namely four Roman cemeteries and nine Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, it reviews textile remains and grave objects associated with clothing and personal equipment. Firstly, this analysis evaluates the degree of variation between different populations through cultural traits, using for the first time the statistical formula elaborated by Penrose to discern different populations by some biological traits. Secondly, this research considers cultural and non-cultural factors, which may preserve textile in different forms. Some mechanisms of preservation for textile are already investigated by experimental studies. This subject is affected by its intrinsic incomplete condition, textiles occur less than other materials in the archaeological record. However, the archaeological reports often show a lack of interest that makes this subject even more inconclusive. It seems important that a full understanding of preservative mechanisms of textiles can improve the archaeological reconstructions. This aspect is also linked with the ERC InterArChive project that works for an ideal sampling strategy in
Serchisu, Fabio
Textile fibre preservation and statistical variation in burials : clothing evidence in Anglo-Saxon and Roman inhumations. This research challenges the archaeological record in at least three ways. Through the enquiry of thirteen selected case studies, namely four Roman cemeteries and nine Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, it reviews textile remains and grave objects associated with clothing and personal equipment. Firstly, this analysis evaluates the degree of variation between different populations through cultural traits, using for the first time the statistical formula elaborated by Penrose to discern different populations by some biological traits. Secondly, this research considers cultural and non-cultural factors, which may preserve textile in different forms. Some mechanisms of preservation for textile are already investigated by experimental studies. This subject is affected by its intrinsic incomplete condition, textiles occur less than other materials in the archaeological record. However, the archaeological reports often show a lack of interest that makes this subject even more inconclusive. It seems important that a full understanding of preservative mechanisms of textiles can improve the archaeological reconstructions. This aspect is also linked with the ERC InterArChive project that works for an ideal sampling strategy in
textile fibre preservation statistical variation burial clothing evidence anglo saxon roman inhumation challenge archaeological way enquiry thirteen select_case study namely roman cemetery anglo_saxon cemetery review textile remain grave object associate clothing personal equipment firstly analysis evaluates degree variation different population cultural_trait use first_time statistical formula elaborate discern different population biological trait secondly considers cultural non cultural_factor may preserve textile different_form mechanism preservation textile already investigate experimental_study subject affect intrinsic incomplete condition textiles occur less material archaeological_record however archaeological_report often show lack_interest make subject even inconclusive seem important full preservative mechanism textile improve archaeological_reconstruction aspect also link project work ideal sample strategy