Bronze Age textiles in Copenhagen
I feel I should respond to the message left by gentleman on Sharon’s blog, commenting on my post on the ancient textiles at the National Museum of Denmark at Copenhagen. He is claiming that the images show Iron Age clothing, whereas the the pictures are actually of Bronze Age clothing. I refer the gentleman to p.160 of the museum guide “Nationalmuseets – Arbejdsmark 2000” published by the National Museum in 2001 (ISBN 87-89384-76-8). The Wikkipedia notes that the Nordic Bronze Age covers the period 1800BC to 600BC (add 2000 years for number of years ago), and is divided into roughly six sub-periods. The clothing in question therefore comes from the early Bronze Age.
This is a Bronze Age man’s cloak and hood – and an accompanying hat – both dated by the burial coffin’s tree rings to 3,351 years ago from Borum Eshoj near Arhus
This is a Bronze Age dress and collar-piece from a woman buried 3,370 years ago at Egtved.
This is a recreation of a dress in the style of the Bronze Age dress – the colours taken from a chemical analysis of the original dyes used. The original was stained brown by the chemical action of the bog which preserved it.
I invite the person concerned to leave a comment on my blog here so that I can respond more directly.
Cheers
Jerry
Comment by David
Hi
Although there are bronze age remains at Borum Eshoj, there are also a vast number from other periods as well. I believe that you have misinterpreted the text.
The first graphic shown is actually mediaeval. Of all the burials across Northern Europe, seperate hoods do not arrive until the second wave of Saxons!
The dress/tunic style is not found in any of the bronze age burials. I would suggest you read ‘The Mound People’ by P.V.Glob
Check out
http://www.oakview.demon.co.uk/bronze_age/
The other two graphics are definately iron age, and out of interest, you have missed out the male clothing that accompanies them.
Here is a link to a large photo supplied by LEJRE EXPERIMENTAL CENTRE showing the progresion of clothing through bronze/iron/viking/mediaeval
http://www.gallica.co.uk/danish%20clothing.jpg
This is a large graphic, and can be zoomed in to see the detail.
As an aside, the date you quote should be 600bc NOT 60bc
David
Posted on February 11, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Comment by jerry
Thanks David
I acknowledge that I may have misinterpreted the graphic. I note also that the Bronze-Age section of the museum was appropriately dark when I took the photos (to conserve the dyes). Indeed too dark to photograph some of the pieces. Yes I missed the extra zero on the more recent date – it should read 600BC. But the clothes were certainly in the Bronze-Age section of the museum and the dates were those given in the guide.
Many thanks for your interest, and I shall certainly research this further.
Best regards
Jerry
Posted on February 11, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Comment by David
Hi Jerry
Another site for you to follow up on.
A full set of photos of all the bronze age coffin remains in Copenhagen.
http://membres.lycos.fr/bronzeage/burials/index.html
Posted on March 1, 2006 at 11:15 pm
Comment by Alexandra
What a delightful site and discussions! Thank you for sharing them for others to enjoy.
Posted on July 14, 2008 at 4:40 am