EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

Fig. 8.3: Location of sites with evidence for weaving (total sites: 58)
Sewing tools
The final stage in processing textiles involved sewing pieces of cloth together with needle and
thread to make garments and other items. The early written sources indicate that women
were expected to be experts at spinning, weaving, sewing and embroidery (Kelly 1997, 449).
In addition to basic sewing, embroidery was regarded as an occupation of high-status women
(Kelly 1997, 451), and was one of the skills taught to noble-born girls in fosterage, along with
sewing and cutting cloth (Kelly 1997, 452). While the presence of needles made of copper
alloy, iron or bone may provide evidence for these tasks at early medieval sites (Table 8.5), it
is not possible to distinguish the type of use made of these tools, e.g. whether for mundane
or elaborate needlework, although the finer, copper alloy needles might be more suited for
the latter. Furthermore, even the identification as a needle may be subject, particularly where
bone is used as the raw material; ‘bone pin/needles’ is a frequent entry on finds lists, but the
distinction is rarely followed up. It can be argued that in some cases where the perforated
end of the item is widely splayed, it would be unlikely to have served as a needle other than
for very coarse fabrics, as otherwise the broad end would have damaged or torn the weave
of the cloth. Straight or tapering ends beyond the perforation are more clearly indicative of a
needle, particularly for fine work.
Site Site type Copperalloy
Iron Bone Reference
Baronstown, Co. Meath Non-circular Yes Yes Yes Linnane & Kinsella 2009, 115
Bowling Green, Co.
Univallate Yes Fanning 1970, 16
Tipperary
Carraig Aille I, Co. Limerick Cashel Yes Ó Ríordáin 1949, 97
Castlefarm, Co. Meath Cemetery/ Yes O'Connell 2009, 51
settlement
Cherrywood, Co. Dublin Other Yes Ó Néill & Coughlan 2010, 242-
3
Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly Monastic Yes Ó Floinn & King 1998, 124;
King 2009, 339
Corbally, Co. Kildare
Cemetery/
Yes Coyne 2010, 83
settlement
Deer Park Farms, Co. Antrim Raised Yes Yes Lynn & McDowell 2011, 281;
Hurl 2011, 259;
Dowdstown 2, Co. Meath Non-circular Yes Cagney & O'Hara 2009, 132
130