(in Polish) Ancient technologies: organic materials 2800-AORGAN

1. Introduction to perishable material culture and the concept of the missing majority. Methodology and interdisciplinary approaches: ethnographic studies and experimental archaeology, iconographic studies, scientific analyses.

2. Preservation of the organic evidence. Methods of exploration of organic finds. First aid before the conservation. Block lifting and laboratory excavations.

3. Preservation of the organic evidence: textile imprints on clay. Indirect evidence: textile tools, workplaces, iconography of textiles and textile production

4. Functionality of textile tools: spindle whorls and loom weights. Documentation of textile tools.

5. Documentation of textile finds: marco- and microscopic examination, visual grouping, basic parameters: diameter, twist-direction, twist angle, number of threads per cm

6. Leather as a raw material in the past. The assortment of leather finds. Indirect sources to the knowledge of former leather crafts (tools, iconographic and ethnographic studies, experimental archaeology).

7. Methods of skin processing into leather - introduction to tannage technologies (fat and smoke tannages, vegetable tannage, alum tawing, rawhide method). Archaeological evidence of tanning and tanneries. Preservation issues and post-excavation treatments.

8. Macro – and microscopic analysis of archaeological leather: basic parameters, species identification, observations of surface features.

9. Basic techniques of leather items production: cutting patterns, stitches and seams, decorating and finishing. Interpretation of traces on leather. The importance of production waste in research on leatherworking.

10. Documentation of leather artefacts: classification, drawing, and recording of archaeological leather.

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Blended learning
Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

The course offers the basic introduction to the perishable material culture, specifically the evidence of textiles and leather products. The participants will be given information about the raw materials, main types of products, how to analyse, describe and document textiles and leather finds.

Course coordinators

Karolina Blusiewicz
Agata Ulanowska

Learning outcomes

The participants will learn the basic concepts and terminology describing perishable material culture, they will learn how to describe, document and analyse organic finds and tools used to produce them.
The participants will be able to analyse specific organic finds themselves, to choose the optimal method of analysis. They will work in groups and develop collaboration skills. They will understand the key role of textile production in ancient economies and learn how to use multidisciplinary approach to investigate material culture. They will be aware of the impact of technology in various social and cultural processes.

Assessment criteria

Participation in the course is obligatory (allowed is 1 absence). Each participant had to document a chosen piece of textile, a textile tool, and a leather item. The correctness of the documentation (e.g. its application to the presented documentation standards) is the basis for the evaluation

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2800-AORGAN in USOSweb