Textiles of the Viking North Atlantic : Analysis, Interpretation, Re-creation
(Author) Dr Alexandra Lester-MakinAn examination of the uses, meanings, and social impact of Viking Age textiles. This volume offers the first full study of archaeological fabrics and their decoration found in the North Atlantic region and dating broadly from the Viking or Norse period. With contributions from both academic scholars and practitioners, it shows how approaching early medieval textiles from archaeological, historical and literary contexts, and through the processes of learning and employing the traditional skills of making them, brings about a more nuanced understanding of early medieval cloths: their creation, use and meanings within their respective societies. The book is divided into two parts. The first, "Textiles and their Interpretation", takes the reader on a journey from how wool was processed in the Viking Age, and the conservator's role in preserving and interpreting archaeological textiles, to different types of analyses that researchers use to understand and explain textiles from across the wide area of the Viking-influenced North Atlantic region. The second, "Understanding through Replicating", investigates the results of practical experiments in the reconstruction of surviving medieval fabrics and the resulting empirical conclusions that can be made about their manufacture and wider cultural implications.
Dr Alexandra Lester-Makin
Dr. Alexandra Lester-Makin is a renowned author known for her groundbreaking work in feminist literature. Her most famous book, "The Unwritten Truth," challenges societal norms and promotes gender equality. Lester-Makin's eloquent prose and powerful storytelling have inspired a new generation of writers and readers alike.