Flax rots

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former Rottegruben (cultural monument "Flachsrösten") in the Wahnenbusch in Erkelenz
Flachskuhlen in the Bockerter Heide as part of an adventure trail that presents traditional farming methods of production in the cultural landscape

A flax roast (also called flax roast , flax red or Rötelteich , in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony also called Flachskuhle or Rottekuhle or Röthekuhle ) was a plant for the extraction of plant fibers from flax (common flax).

Manufacturing process

Harvested flax stalks were fermented for several days to weeks in a pit filled with water . In the process , the pectins in the plant stem , which connect the fibers with the solid wood components of the plant, “ rot ” (as a verb “roast”, rot, rot) . This opened up the vascular bundles that were used as spinnable fibers for the manufacture of flax yarn and linen . The fibers were then dried, broken and combed out .

The roasting took place in stagnant water that could not be used as fish water due to the decomposition products of the putrefaction process. During the roasting a strong smell arose, so that flax rotten was created away from the settlements. Flax cuttings, however, were preferably created near ditches and streams in order to then simply divert the decomposition products into the ditches and dispose of them.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ PDF: Goldbeck and Friedrichswald, historical local walk
  2. ↑ What is a ground monument? , In: Archeology and Law. , Mainz 1991, p. 148 f.

Web links

Commons : Flax Rot  - collection of images, videos and audio files