Karanis / Wool

About this Item

Record Details

Object Identifier

0000.01.2143

Other Number

Midgley 24.184.001

Type of Number

Catalogue Number

Lot

University of Michigan excavation (Karanis) Undetermined date

Collections

Kelsey Permanent Artifact Collections

Object Type

Textiles

Materials

Wool

Length

A - 20.5

B1 - 6.5

B2 - 4.5

C - 4.5;

Width

;A - 27

B1 - 5.5

B2 - 2

C - 1.5

Height

;

Thickness

;

Weight

;

Inscribed

no

Full Artifact Description

Fragments of three different woven wool fabrics sewn together.

Fragment A - Large fragment with brown warp and a brown weft band 4.5 cm wide and a green weft band 16 cm wide.

Fragment B1 and B2 - Two pieces, sewn to A with brown warp and purple weft (which has become discolored and appears greenish). There are several two pick rows of natural linen in both pieces, as well as a small amount of linen weft-wrapping.

Fragment C - Brown warp, darker brown weft. Sewn to brown band of fragment A.

Subjects

undecorated

Unit Grid Number

4025

Component/Room

00G

Area

R

Verbatim Provenance

Egypt

Verbatim Site

Karanis

Countermark

no

Condition Notes

All are dirty and worn. There are very small areas of encrusted mud. Fragment A has many interior holes and large edge tears. All have some weft damage that leaves exposed warps. There is some edge fraying.

Fabric Structure

All are weft-faced plain weave. Fragment B1 has some eccentric weft. Fragment B2 has some weft-wrapping.

Border Type

none

Selvedge Type

none

Sewing

There is a row of very deteriorated brown stitches in the center of the green band of fragment A. These stitches may have been used to attach part of fragment B; there is a very tiny fragment of B still in this row. The row forms an “L” shape. These stitches measure from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm long. Yellow stitches attach Fragments B1, B2 and C. These are overcast stitches that measure from 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm long. There are small brown stitches which attach fragments B2 and C to fragment A. These stitches measure from 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm long. A loose section of this yarn connects B2 and C. There is also one of these stitches in the brown band of fragment A, next to the green band, that attaches a very tiny fragment that may have been connected to B1 or B2.

Yarn #

12143.WA.01;12143.WE.01;12143.WE.02;12143.WA.02;12143.WE.03;12143.WE.04;12143.WA.03;12143.WE.05;12143.WE.06;12143.WA.04;12143.WE.07;12143.YN.01;12143.YN.02;12143.YN.03

Function

warp - fragment A;weft - fragment A;weft - fragment A;warp - fragment B1;weft - fragment B1;weft - fragment B1;warp - fragment B2;weft - fragment B2;weft - fragment B2;warp - fragment C;weft - fragment C;sewing - center of green band of frag. A;sewing - attaches smaller fragments to fragment A;sewing - attaches B2 and C to A

Color

medium brown/orange (469);medium brown/orange (469);dark green (BLK3);light brown (PQZO);dark dull purple (439) discolored, looks greenish;pale beige (OISH);medium brown/orange (469);dark dull purple (439) discolored, looks greyish green;pale beige (OISH);medium brown/orange (469);deep brown (476);medium brown/orange (469);off white/yellowed (OITHL);deep brown (476)

Yarns/cm

10;40;46;10;52;too few for accurate count;10 (two counts only);54;too few for accurate count;10 (one count only);40;;;

Structure

single;single;single;single;single;single;single;single;single;single;single;single, used doubled;single, used doubled;single, used doubled

Spin

s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s;s

Twist Level

high;med;med;med;med;med;med;med;med;med;med;med;high;med

Fiber

wool;wool;wool;wool;wool;flax;wool;wool;flax;wool;wool;wool;wool;wool

Type Category

Textile

Technical Details

Collection

Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Art & Artifact Collection

Record

0000.01.2143

Link to this Item

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kelsey/x-0000.01.2143/0000_01_2143 content_copy