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From Flax to Linen
This report tells the story of flax and its long journey from field to finished cloth. Based on a unique archaeological find of a Viking Age shirt from Viborg, the project investigates how much work lay behind the production of linen clothing.
The report is the result of a collaboration between Ribe VikingeCenter and the University of Southern Denmark, in which the cultivation of flax, the processing of the fibres and the production of thread and textile were recreated through practical experiments. The aim was both to document the process from flax seed to finished product and to gain a clearer understanding of the time and labour required to produce a garment in linen.
The result is a detailed account of flax’s journey through cultivation, processing and textile production in a Viking Age context. The report therefore offers a rare insight into the many stages behind a material that has been an important part of everyday life for centuries.
The report is published in Danish and English. Download it here:
