Neolithic textile a first for the Ness
Although on-site work was cancelled in 2020, post-excavation continued apace, and revealed evidence of a woven Neolithic textile at the Ness of Brodgar — only the second example found in Scotland.
Although archaeologists don’t physically have a piece of 5,000-yearold fabric, what they found was the impression it left when pressed against the wet clay of a pot.
To date, there is only one other piece of evidence suggesting the use of woven textiles in Neolithic Scotland — another clay imprint discovered in dumfries and Galloway in 1966.
The Ness discovery came to light during a project started at the University of the Highlands and islands Archaeology institute in 2019, to closely examine impressions left on the surfaces of sherds of pottery from the site.
Two co-joining pottery sherds were found to carry the imprint of a woven cloth. The impressions appear on the inner face of the vessel, suggesting they were made during the pot’s creation.
The imprint appears to show finely woven cloth, but details of the weaving technique used are difficult to ascertain — although the yarn used was probably plant-based, possibly flax.
Alongside, the mark left by a section of cord was also noted. This was so clear it was possible to see the individual fibres.
Work continues to document and interpret these impressions, which, it is hoped, will provide an invaluable insight into the fibre techology of the Neolithic.