Aspects of Gender Identity and Craft Production in the European Migration Period: Iron Weaving Beaters and Associated Textile Making Tools from Englan

Grave goods show that women were identified as weavers in the early Anglo-Saxon period, rather than specifically spinners, as occurs later. A key piece of weaving equipment found in migration era burials is the iron beater, shaped during this period like a sword. Spear shaped beaters appear later in the seventh century. This study is centred on a corpus of sword and spear shaped beaters not only from Anglo-Saxon England (centred on East Kent), but also from Norway, where the earliest examples are found and from Alamannia. Conclusions are drawn about the processes and social composition of textile production, including any separation of weaving and spinning, and discuss why tools associated with the women's task of weaving should be shaped as objects with masculine associations.

Author: Sue Harrington
Publisher: British Archaeological Reports Oxford Ltd
Published: 12/31/2008
Pages: 148
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.09lbs
Size: 11.69h x 8.27w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781407302188

About the Author
Harrington, Sue: - Sue Harrington

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