Textile finds from Herjolfsnæs

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tunic from Herjolfsnæs, before 1400.
Reconstructions of tunic, children's tunic and cowl, Greenland National Museum, Nuuk .
Memorial crosses, National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen.

The textile finds from Herjolfsnæs are an ensemble of medieval clothes , in the Danish National Museum are kept in Copenhagen. They come from the cemetery in Herjolfsnæs , Østerbygd, Greenland and date from around 1300 to 1400. This ground monument was examined by Poul Nørlund in 1921 as part of an archaeological expedition.

Many people were buried in the Herjolfsnæs cemetery in their worn out everyday clothes, which did not rot in the cold ground. The ensemble includes 30 tunics , 17 cowls , 5 hats and 6 stockings . Their appearance corresponds to the clothes that can be seen on contemporary European illustrations; they differ from these in that they are all woven from Greenland sheep's wool .

colourfulness

Due to the preservation in the soil, all textiles have a brownish color today. However, studies have shown that patterns and contrasting effects were achieved with white, brown and black wool. There are also references to the use of vegetable dyes, e.g. B. a children's tunic made of white wool with a mauve cap. A Greenland lichen served as the dye . Traces of red and blue paint were also found.

The tunics (smocks)

The most important item of clothing for adults was knee-length gowns that looked almost the same for men and women. A better fit of this garment could be achieved through incorporated gussets . Under the smock, both men and women wore long stockings that could be attached to a belt at the top.

The cowl

The costume was completed by the so-called Gugel, which covered the head, neck and shoulders and ended in a long tip, which could also be wrapped around the neck like a scarf as protection against bad weather.

More finds

Some people were buried with wooden memorial crosses that they held in their hands or that had been placed on their chests or on the lid of the coffin.

literature

  • Poul Grinder-Hansen: Guides to the National Museum. Danish Middle Ages and Renaissance, Copenhagen 2002, ISBN 87-89384-98-9 , pp. 44-51.

Web links

Coordinates: 59 ° 59 ′ 28 "  N , 44 ° 43 ′ 34.6"  W.