Fibre and Perishable Artifact Analysis, Conservation and Interpretation
Photo by Nancy Greene.
Photo by Tim Rast, Backdirt screening on Baffin Island.
Illustration by artist Stephen Snake
The CAA is a national organization that advances the development and dissemination of archaeological knowledge in Canada through research, publication, advocacy, collaboration, student support and Indigenous partnership.
- EN
- FR
Fibre and Perishable Artifact Analysis, Conservation and Interpretation
Date/Time
Saturday, May 9, 2:30 pm – Saturday, May 9, 3:30 pm
Session Room
Arnica
Session Hosting Format
in-person session
Session Type
Themed Session
Organizer(s)
- Tracy Martens, Royal Saskatchewan Museum
Contact Email
Session Description
Fibre and perishable artifacts present unique analytical, conservation, and interpretive challenges stemming from their inherent perishability and the lack of attention they receive. Recent research highlights the need for further work on basic plant fibre identification procedures and reference materials, as well as on basic training in artifact identification, description, handling, and storage procedures. This session invites papers and project descriptions focused on detailed recording, conservation and analysis of fibre and perishable artifacts from archaeological, historical, or museum contexts. We welcome projects that demonstrate the research value and potential of these artifacts, that contribute to or utilize new methods for fibre or dye identification, or that demonstrate best practices for handling, recording, and storing fibre and perishable artifacts and associated tools.
Presentations
2:30 PM: Micro-Excavation of Three Birch Bark Objects (
Cindy
Neis
)
Cindy
Neis
Format: Online - pre-recorded
Author(s):
Author(s):
- CindyNeis- Royal Saskatchewan Museum
The utilization of birch bark by Indigenous people is evident in many if not most circumpolar regions, yet it is not always visible in the archaeological records or emphasized in research. Across Canada, the archaeological community has increasingly turned its attention to the analysis of plant fibers and has begun to examine Indigenous use of birch bark in Canada. My research builds on this work through the analysis of three birch bark objects recovered from a midden at the Hudson Bay Co. Fort Carlton trade post. This historic trade post is located on the Carlton trail which connected the Red River Settlement to the Cypress Hills. This location was significant to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples as well as European traders and settlers. This study explores the use of birch by Indigenous women in Saskatchewan and examines what micro-excavation and radiocarbon dating reveal about the temporal and cultural context of these birch bark objects.
2:50 PM: Colour, Craft, and Status: Chemical Insights from the Sassanid Saltman Textiles of Chehrabad, Iran (
Shokoufeh
Ahmadi
)
Shokoufeh
Ahmadi
Format: In-Person
Author(s):
Author(s):
- ShokoufehAhmadi- Chemistry Dept, History Dept, The University of Winnipeg
- DouglasGoltz- Chemistry Dept, University of Winnipeg
- DouglasCraig- Chemistry Dept, University of Winnipeg
This study uses capillary electrophoresis to analyze microscopic red, yellow, and green fibers from the Sassanid "Saltman I" (224–651 AD) discovered in Chehrabad, Iran. Analysis identified alizarin (madder) in red threads and flavonoids consistent with weld in yellow fibers. Significantly, green textiles showed complex color layering rather than simple mixtures, revealing sophisticated technological choices and specialized botanical knowledge in Sassanid Iran. By integrating molecular dye analysis into the international Saltman project, this research expands interpretations of craft production, status, and regional knowledge systems. This interdisciplinary approach clarifies ancient artisanal skills and aids in preserving global textile heritage.
3:10 PM: Archaeological Textile Fibre Identification; Past, Present and Future (
Tracy
Martens
)
Tracy
Martens
Format: In-Person
Author(s):
Author(s):
- TracyMartens- Royal Saskatchewan Museum
Archaeological textile fibres include plant, animal, and mineral materials. Microscopy is the most common approach for identifying fibre types when diagnostic features are well documented and archaeological samples are well preserved. This approach is entirely reliant on the skill of individual researchers, and recent work has shown that this subjective method of plant fibre identification is not as reliable as previously suggested, with poor interlaboratory reproducibility. Additionally, common plant fibre species are not sufficiently characterized, and previously established diagnostic features have been shown not to be diagnostic. While this approach is still used in some disciplines, new methods focused on elemental composition and microcrystalline structure are being developed. This paper explores past and present methods and challenges, and outlines a current research project using synchrotron radiation to identify archaeological plant fibres.