Lievelet: A Bronze Age Loom by sandra46

Photography • Historical • posted on Jan 06, 2013

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Description

The pile dwelling at the Revine lakes is simply one out of the merely 1000 known archaeological pile-dwelling sites in six countries around the Alps (Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia). The remains of prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements dating from 5000 to 500 BC which are situated under water, on lake shores, along rivers or in wetland, offered exceptional conservation conditions for organic remains such as wood, textiles, plant remains, and other perishable items. Numerous artefacts from fabrics and netting to baskets dating from the period between 3900 and 800 BC have survived in the archaeological layers of late Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland settlements. Although no such remains were found here, they found a lot of these perishable remains in other pile dwellings, such as those at Ledro, Trentino (http://www.palafitteledro.it/dp%20Palafitte%20ING.pdf ) Plentiful finds of loom weights, as well as spindles, sometimes decorated with dot-patterns, carding combs made of antler, bone needles and even strips of woven material are all evidence of this activity at Ledro. The cloth was woven from pure linen thread, the width of the weft varying considerably, and was found in strips, in superimposed squares (perhaps for patchworks) and in rolls, one of which could only have been a girdle. The most interesting aspect of this find is that the outer warps, into which the weft is woven, form a continuous unbroken thread, presupposing the use of small looms. While the belt or horizontal loom was in use for a very long time, the development of the upright loom as the (reconstructed) one in the photo allowed the weaver greater technological freedom. The upright loom was commonly used in antiquity, traces of them being known in Europe from the middle Bronze Age onwards.A perforated stone or ceramic block weighing around 1kg that was used for stretching the threads forming the warp or the weft on a loom. In many cases the loomweights and pin-beaters are all the physical evidence that remains for weaving at an excavated settlement. Thanks for your kind comments.

Comments (46)

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Jean_C

9:40AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Superb habitat restoration and weaving in the Neolithic. Superb capture too!

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Star4mation

9:41AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Fantastic info and photograph Sandra :)

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eekdog

9:48AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

cool effects on this shot.

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Richardphotos

9:56AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

outstanding capture

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magnus073

9:57AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

What a simply wonderful photos Sandra, I am so enjoying this series on the pile dwellings. This loom is incredible, and I loved reading the background history you provided

alanwilliams

9:58AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

superb, speaks of times gone by, superb image

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durleybeachbum

10:06AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

These things always make me wonder about the person who first thought of the device/invention etc.

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renecyberdoc

11:04AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

fantastico.

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Faemike55

11:10AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Fascinating is putting it mildly as I look at this image!

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claude19

11:27AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

always outstanding words and photography ! what an interessant moment !

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Leije

11:37AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Superb shot of this reconstituted upright loom, and interesting infos !

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lyron

11:58AM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Marvelous picture. Great work!!!

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Radar_rad-dude

12:23PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

A most excellent history and fine photo, Sandra! Love the stairs! A most effective design and fine addition to this ancient household, I'm sure. Better than a ladder I think! Must've been quite a revolutionary development as well!

bebert

1:14PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

belle piece !!

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drifterlee

1:50PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Beautiful colors and textures in this shot, Sandra!

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Minda

4:47PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

excellent picture sandra.

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mgtcs

5:13PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

WOW...Such a marvelous lighting here, superb image dear friend, very well done!

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jeroni

7:14PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Excellent shot, fantastic colors and details

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wysiwig

7:46PM | Sun, 06 January 2013

Fascinating information and great image. This gives the lie to those scholars who have described Europeans from this era as savage hunter gatherers clad in animal skins.

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