Rolling or sedentary stone?

Mossy wall

Reading about ancient plant fiber technology…what solution was used to make fiber “longer.” Do you splice or use a kind of spinning to hold the new piece in place (if I have it right)? A recent study shows that across a big swath of the eastern Mediterranean, for generations most fiber workers (probably women) used splicing earlier and longer than previously believed. What’s most interesting to me is that this was widely used for a very long time…and across a wide area…without change. Why? Why do it the same way your grandmother and here grandmother did? Why no innovation? This duration issue arises in other places with other materials, techniques, and technologies. We generally think of humans as innovators, but archaeology shows repeated examples of continuity for dozens of generations and across huge areas, even when populations are low. Love mysteries like this!

2 comments

  1. Pooh says:

    I use several methods for joining new yarn when I’m knitting. One of these is splicing. Granted, I’m using yarn that’s already been spun, but heat, pressure, and a little moisture will make two into one.
    Can’t venture into the tradition vs. innovation question.

  2. Maureen says:

    Thanks for the (for me) timely reference.