Bronze Age Textiles in the making
Sophie Bergerbrant
The identity and status of textile makers, and organization behind textile production, are
seldom discussed in prehistoric archaeology. Based on historical models the general
assumption seems to be that households created their own cloth. How well does this
correspond with the role of crafts and craftspeople in other prehistoric periods? This paper
will discuss the organization of textile production in the Bronze Age, from the raw material to
the finished cloth. The discussion will be based on the remains of the raw materials and
textile tools, as well as the actual textiles found in settlements and burials from the Bronze
Age. This paper will also consider the people involved in textile production. Was textile
production widely understood, falling into the realm of general knowledge, or was it a prized
specialist skill? Were many people involved in the craft, or few? This paper will draw on
theoretical concepts to explore the organization, co-operation and networks relevant to the
field of textile production, as well as actual archaeological material. It aims to widen the
debate on Bronze Age crafts beyond the bronze smiths, flint knappers and potters,
contributing to a more complex picture of everyday life in the Bronze Age.