By
Elizabeth Wincott Heckett
Department of Archaeology
University College Cork, NUI
Cork, Ireland
Excavations
over the last twenty years have revealed much information about Viking Age
Ireland. Among the organic finds from Dublin are silk caps, scarves and bands
that show clearly the types of head coverings worn then. The caps were
carefully made to a particular pattern that is related to similar caps from
Viking Age York and Lincoln, England. There are also some rich compound weave
silks, hairnets and braids from Waterford and Cork. Tablet weaving and plaiting
techniques were used to make cords for various uses, including perhaps an
archer’s bowstring. The delicate hairnets are beautifully knotted and have
survived surprisingly well.
A
very recent find in Dunmore Caves, Co. Kilkenny is a small but important Viking
Age hoard containing a scrap of fine weave colored silk, ornamented silver and
intriguing silver wire pendant dress or head ornaments. The silk may have
survived through interaction with the silver.
From
the ninth century onwards incomers from Scandinavia began to settle in Ireland
and to found towns like Dublin, Waterford and Cork. These lively settlements
were widely engaged in trade and commerce, and trade routes extended at least
from Byzantium to Iceland. The silk remains, imports from distant lands,
illustrate vividly the rich daily life of these first citizens of Dublin and
other Irish towns. It seems that for these townspeople silk cloth and thread
were highly esteemed and prestigious goods but were also in general use,
reflecting their high standard of living.
Elizabeth
Wincott Heckett is a Research Associate and part-time lecturer in the
Department of Archaeology, University College Cork, National University of
Ireland. Wincott Heckett has published Medieval and Viking Age textiles from
Dublin, Waterford and Cork, and Bronze Age, Iron Age, Early and Post Medieval
Irish finds. Presentations and subsequent publications include the Northern
European Archaeological Symposia 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2002, and TSA
1998 and 2000. Her publication, Viking Age Headcoverings from Dublin (Royal
Irish Academy) is planned to be in print at the end of 2002.