Pre Viking - Early period Clothing Finds
Pre Viking - Early Period Clothing Finds
– Looking for the Evidence By Jennifer Baker ( Jenny Baker )
Research Disclaimer : Please note that This Research was done many years ago now :
so the information contained may now be out of date , photos gone missing or web links broken
My apologises : But It has become an impossible task to try and keep it up to date - Jenny
Time Table of Pre Viking - Early Clothing Finds
chart made by Looking for the Evidence : Jennifer Baker ( Jenny Baker )
Thorsberg
Location: Thorsberg Germany
Find Date: around the 2-5th centuries
Date of Excavations: 1860 - 1861 by Conrad Engelhardt
Clothing Item
Tunic
Cloaks
Trousers
Trousers
leg wrap
Shoe
Cat No.
3688
3686
3685
3684
Description
The primary material is wool
total of 5 cloaks
Square shaped - Twill Pattern with lower edge adorned with a border and fringe
Measurements 52 Inches by 41 inches
one is of a dark brown colour due to tanning of the bog water. The other shows a greenish colour at the bottom and the fringe is yellow and black ( P.42 Denmark in the early iron age )
The primary material is wool
Description: in poor condition
(3685) is much more fragmentary. Like 3684, it is made from a fine reddish brown 2/2 woollen diamond twill, and have integrated stockings at the bottom of the legs.
The primary material is wool
Description: in good condition
(3684) is made from a fine reddish 2/2 diamond wool twill, and is intact with the exception of the lower part of one of the legs, where the last 30 cm is missing. From top to toe, the brók measure about 125 cm; and the circumference at the waist appears to be about 90-100 cm.
The primary material is
Description: fragmentary
The primary material is
Description
References:
PDF of the pants and pattern at
Article 2nd Thornberg pants sacrifice discovery
Photos from
Engelhardt, Conrad (1866) Denmark in the early iron age.
https://archive.org/details/denmarkinearlyir00engeuoft
photos of patterns from Textilfunde der eisenzeit in Norddeutschland by Karl Schlabow, Wachholtz, ISBN: 9783529015151:
http://www.kelticos.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=4034
Viking Men: Clothing the legs
By Hilde Thunem
http://urd.priv.no/viking/bukser.html
Bernuthsfeld
Location: Bernuthsfeld Germany
Findspot: Hogehahn Moor, Landkreis Aurich
Find Date:The calibrated age range is cal AD 680-775
Date of Excavations: 24 May 1907
Bernuthsfeld Man was discovered on 24 May 1907 when peat workers unearthed his skeleton and clothing. His heavily worn tunic was patched out of 45 single pieces of cloth, out of 20 different fabrics in 9 different weaving patterns
Clothing Item
Tunic
Other objects
hood
leg wrap
Cloak
Cloak
Cloak
Hat
Belt
Cat No.
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
cloak #1
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
cloak #2
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
cloak #
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
Bernuthsfeld Man (1907)
(inv. No. 0952 097 072)
Description
The primary material is wool
Description: a sleeved tunic,
His heavily worn tunic was patched out of 45 single pieces of cloth, out of 20 different fabrics in 9 different weaving patterns
Front View
Back view
Associated object(s): a stick, two woollen cloaks, leg wrappings, a sleeved tunic, two leather belts and a leather knife sheath
The primary material is
Description:
The primary material is
Description:
The primary material is
Description: cloak #1
The primary material is
Description: cloak #2
The primary material is wool
Description: rectangular cloak, pieced, unclear if this is #1 or #2
The primary material is leather
Description: leather hat
3 piece hat
The primary material is leather
Description: two leather belts and a leather knife sheath
References:
Schlabow, K. (1976) Textilfunde der Eisenzeit in Norddeutschland, Neumuünster: Wachholtz.
A history of costume
by Köhler, Karl, 1930
https://archive.org/stream/historyofcostume00khle#page/n7/mode/2up
( Photo of Hood )
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Marx-Stapelstein
Location: Marx-Stapelstein Germany
Findspot: Hilgenmoor,Landkreis Wittmund
Find Date: The calibrated age range is cal AD 135-385.
Date of Excavations: 1861
Marx-Sapelstein Woman
Clothing Item
Cat No.
Marx-Stapelstein (1861)
Description
remains of several woollen garments
References: Photo from
Jahrbuch des Provinzialmuseums zu Hannover, 1909-1910, II. Teil Fibel und Fibeltracht, De Gruyter, ISBN: 978-3-11-026848-5
Yearbook of the Provincial Museum in Hanover, 1909-1910, Part II. Primer and fibula costume, De Gruyter, ISBN: 978-3-11-026848 -5
https://archive.org/details/jahrbuchdesprovi19081911land
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Marx-Etzel
Location: Marx-Etzel Germany
Findspot: Hilgenmoor,Landkreis Wittmund
Find Date: The calibrated age range is cal AD 45-125.
Date of Excavations: 1817
Clothing Item
Tunic
Tunic
Trousers
Shoe
Cat No.
Marx-Etzel (1817)
Marx-Etzel (1817)
Description
The primary material is wool
Description: a sleeveless woollen tunic,
remains of a third woollen garment
The primary material is wool
Description: short - knee-breeches
trousers are of inferior weave and cut, being made of one piece of cloth for each leg with and extra panel in the middle to widen them.
a pair of woollen knee-length breeches,
The primary material is leather
Description: leather shoe
References:
PDF of the Trousers and pattern at
http://www.prehistorischeijzertijd.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/kniebroek-van-Marx-Etzel.pdf
Karl Schlabow: Textilfunde aus der Eisenzeit in Norddeutschland
Photos from
Jahrbuch des Provinzialmuseums zu Hannover, 1909-1910, II. Teil Fibel und Fibeltracht, De Gruyter, ISBN: 978-3-11-026848-5
Yearbook of the Provincial Museum in Hanover, 1909-1910, Part II. Primer and fibula costume, De Gruyter, ISBN: 978-3-11-026848 -5
https://archive.org/details/jahrbuchdesprovi19081911land
photos of patterns from Textilfunde der eisenzeit in Norddeutschland by Karl Schlabow, Wachholtz, ISBN: 9783529015151:
http://www.kelticos.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=4034
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Obenaltendorf
Location: Obenaltendorf Germany
Findspot: Kehdinger Moor, LandkreisCuxhaven
Find Date: The calibrated date is cal AD 260-380,
Date of Excavations: 1895
Obenaltendorf Man - Little remains of the body, but the clothing was preserved fairly well. Apart from clothing, a pair of silver burlocks were found.
Clothing Item
Tunic
Cloak
Trousers
leg wrap
Shoe
Cat No.
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Obenaltendorf Man (1895)
(inv. No. 930)
Description
The primary material is wool
Description: The sleeveless tunic was decorated top and bottom with three woven, darker stripes
The primary material is
Description: 173 x 253 cm with twisted to 5 cm long fringes.
Knee Breeches
The primary material is
Description
The primary material is
Description:
Associated objects: a woollen cloak, a tunic, a pair of breeches, leg wrappings, shoes and two silver Kapselberlocks
References: photos from
PDF of the tunic and pattern at
Hans Hahne: Die Moorleiche von Obenaltendorf, Kr. Neuhaus a. d. O.. In: Vorzeitfunde aus Niedersachsen. VI Lieferung 4/5, Hildesheim 1919.
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Dätgen
Location: Dätgen Germany
Findspot: Grossen Moor, LandkreisRendsburg-Eckernfo¨rde
Find Date: The calibrated date is cal AD 345-535.
Date of Excavations: 1906
Only the clothing of the body has survived. Little is published about this find.
Clothing Item
Tunic
Cloak
Trousers
Trousers
Other objects
Cat No.
Da¨tgen (1906)
(inv. No. KS 11919)
Da¨tgen (1906)
(inv. No. KS 11919)
Da¨tgen (1906)
(inv. No. KS 11919)
Da¨tgen (1906)
(inv. No. KS 11919)
Da¨tgen (1906)
(inv. No. KS 11919)
Description
The primary material is wool
Description: woollen tunic
The primary material is wool
Description: woollen cloak
The primary material is wool
Description: pair of woollen knee-length breeches
The primary material is wool
Description: evidently female
trousers are of inferior weave and cut, being made of one piece of cloth for each leg with and extra panel in the middle to widen them. had slits at the ankle
Associated objects: a woollen cloak, a pair of woollen knee-length breeches and the remains of a woollen tunic and several other garments/accessories
References:
Photo of pants from
The Dätgen Trousers by GABRIELE ZINK – ANNE KWASPEN
PDF of the pants and pattern at https://www.academia.edu/15051493/The_D%C3%A4tgen_trousers
PDF of the Trousers and pattern at
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Damendorf
Damendorf Girl
Location: Damendorf Ruchmoor Germany
Findspot: Ruchmoor,LandkreisRendsburg-Eckernfo¨rde
Find Date: The calibrated age range is 410-390 cal BC
Date of Excavations: 1934
Damendorf Girl - The body of an approximately 14-year-old girl was found along with some clothing.
References:
PDF of the Skirt and pattern at
PDF of the hair net and pattern at
http://www.prehistorischeijzertijd.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Artikel-Haarnet-van-Damendorf.pdf
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Damendorf Man
Location: Damendorf Seemoor Germany
Findspot: Seemoor,LandkreisRendsburg-Eckernfo¨rde
Find Date: The calibrated age range is cal AD 135-335
Date of Excavations: 1900
Damendorf Man is currently on display at the Archäologisches Landesmuseum in Schleswig, Germany. The weight of the peat in the bog had flattened his body with only traces of bone left.
Hair, skin, nails, and his few clothes were also preserved. He was found with a leather belt, shoes, and a pair of breeches.
Clothing Item
Cloak
Trousers
leg wrap
shoe
Cat No.
Damendorf Man (1900)
(inv. No. KS 10924)
Damendorf Man (1900)
(inv. No. KS 10924)
Damendorf Man (1900)
(inv. No. KS 10924)
Damendorf Man (1900)
(inv. No. KS 10924)
Damendorf Man (1900)
(inv. No. KS 10924)
Description
The primary material is wool
Description:
The primary material is wool
Description: woollen breeches
The primary material is wool
Description: two woollen leg wrappings
The primary material is leather
Description: shoe
Associated objects: a woollen cloak, a pair of woollen breeches, two woollen leg wrappings, two leather belts, a pair of leather shoes
References:
PDF of the Trousers and pattern at
http://www.prehistorischeijzertijd.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mannenbroek-van-Damendorf.pdf
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bog_bodies
Photo of pants from Pintrest and originally from german-hosiery-museum.de
photos of pattern from Textilfunde der eisenzeit in Norddeutschland by Karl Schlabow, Wachholtz, ISBN: 9783529015151:
Damendorf Woman
Location: Damendorf Ruchmoor Germany
Findspot: Ruchmoor,LandkreisRendsburg-Eckernfo¨rde
Find Date: Pre Roman Iron Age 385-355, 315-205 BC
Date of Excavations: 1884
Only the clothing of this bog body has survived
References:
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Damendorf 1909 find
Location: Damendorf Ruchmoor Germany
Find Date: around the 2-5th centuries
Date of Excavations:
References:
List of bog bodies - Wikipedia
Hunteburg
Hunteburg Men (Hunteburg I + II)
Location: Hunteburg Germany
Findspot: Grossen Moor, LandkreisDiepholz
Find Date: 245–450 CE
Date of Excavations: 1949
Two men were found buried in the same grave and wrapped in cloaks. Their bodies were lost during conservation.
Other Early Clothing Finds
Thank you to the following people - For helping to case down, the details on some of the Hats & caps
Cherilyn Fuhlbohm - Antioch New Varangian Guard
Andrea Willett - Dubh Linn New Varangian Guard
Sandy Sempel - Frojel Gotlantica Viking Re-enactment Society
Prof Lena Strid - Waterford & Oxford Archaeology
Web References:
The Surviving Garments Database
Sewing Stitches Used in Medieval Clothing
Some Clothing of the Middle Ages
An Archaeological Guide to Víking Men's Clothing
Kelticos Forum on Iron Age Studies and Prehistoric Europe
Fashions of the Peat Bogs - Clothing Found from the Celtic Iron Age 400 BC-400 AD By Janet VanMeter
Book Reference:
Thor Ewing 'Viking Clothing' Tempus Publishing 2006 ISBN 0 7524 3587 6
Margrethe Hald, "Olddanske tekstiler". Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskriftsselskab, Nordisk Forlag 1950.
1st Published : 30 Jan 2012 updated: 19 Aug 2016 Page Updated: 10 Sept 2020 © Looking for the Evidence : Jennifer Baker ( Jenny Baker )