[MR] Romans commit fashion faux-pas (Fwd: [Explorator]DigestNumber 383)

[needlez n pinz]

You are wise to suggest looking at such an artifact with a wider perspective
than what these short articles suggest.

There are extant woven anklet type socks from Roman finds, and there are
nalbinding socks in the Mediterranean area dated to around the 3rd century.
Some are looking at the possibility of sprang socks in this area at this
time, too.

While the herringbone design may be artistic license, it is still a design
easily created by weaving, rather than knitting.  It can be done in
knitting, but it uses pretty modern stitch patterns.

Mary Thomas, the author quoted in the House Barra link, did a terrific job
of researching early knitting in the 30's.  But the Dura sock that she cites
as being knitted is actually nalbinding, as later research determined
(different pattern than Scandinavian nalbinding, but still made with a
needle rather than sticks).  Many of the early textile finds were
investigated and labeled by scientists who were not necessarily closely
familiar with different textile techniques.  So their labels and
explanations continue to be studied and updated, and relabeled when
necessary.

It is a fascinating area, lots of second looks and new finds, as these
articles show.  You might want to look up a copy of the History of
Handknitting, by Richard Rutt on a future outing to the library or
bookstore.  He describes these newer explanations of construction more
eloquently than I can, and uses diagrams of stitch formations.  He also has
some great photographs of period knitted pieces.  :-)

Susanna

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org]On Behalf Of John Glenn
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 11:57 AM
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] Romans commit fashion faux-pas (Fwd:
[Explorator]DigestNumber 383)


While I agree that the popular press often jumps to conclusions in
reporting on archaeology and they may not be knitted socks. Can we jump
to the opposite conclusion without a more thorough examination of the
artifact, bearing in mind that it is an artists representation and not
an extant sock?  Very little is absolute or definite in archaeology.
Does sculptor show seams? You can see a representation of a herringbone
pattern in the picture.  This period is not a current focus for me and
it was 27 years ago that I took any classes in classical archaeology,
but I was thinking I had read about knitted Roman socks somewhere and a
quick google turned up these links.:
http://www.housebarra.com/EP/ep05/06knitting.html

http://scatoday.net/node/view/3765

Is there overwhelming evidence of sewn together Roman hose being more
common ( as is apparently the case later on)? I ask because I am
curious and don't intend to just play "devil's advocate" or to be
argumentative. The British press just seemed more interested in the
"socks with sandals" humor. Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing the
links!
  John Craw mka John Glenn,
former archaeologist
On May 23, 2005, at 10:52 AM, SNSpies at aol.com wrote:

>
>
>
> It's not  likely that these were 'woollen, herringbone-knitted sock'
> as a
> couple of  the articles suggest, but rather woollen, herringbone
> *woven*
> socks, cut  and sewn together.  They pre-date the earliest knitted
> items by 5
> or  more centuries.
>
>
>
> Oh, absolutely.
> They were definitely NOT knitted as we know socks today.
>
> Ingvild
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