Uncommon fibres identified in textile finds excavated in Europe dating from Prehistory to the Roman period

FIBRANET is a research project funded by the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020. At an initial stage of the project the types of fibres used in ancient Europe, were identified, through a literature review of published articles and ancient texts. This paper presents the most uncommon fibres that have been identified and published, present in textile finds excavated in Europe, dating from the Prehistoric times to the Roman period. The list of fibres includes cotton, esparto grass and Spanish broom, common stinging nettle, reed, palm leaves and papyrus, several grasses, sage and sedge, club moss, tree-barks, horse and deer hair, badger fur, and cultivated and wild silks. Information on the type of fibre; their scientific name, when this is known; the type of preservation; the use of the find; the place excavated; the date; and the literature reference, are included on the list. A map of Europe with indication of the places where the different fibres were excavated is also included. The aim of this list was to inform the database of reference fibre samples, which will be the final outcome of FIBRANET, and to give an overview of the different types of uncommon fibres that have been excavated across Europe.