ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis of mineral-preserved textiles from Viking Age women's graves in Vinjefjord, Norway

Abstract

Recently excavated, mineral-preserved textile fragments recovered from three largely undisturbed Viking Age inhumation female graves in Vinjefjord, Mid-Norway were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) equipped with attenuated total reflection (ATR) to identify fibre type and potential dyes. The textiles were found in intimate contact with copper-alloy garment accessories and originate from a boat burial and a simple oval pit burial at Skeiet in Vinjeøra and a burial chamber at Hestnes in Valsøyfjord. Five textiles were selected for analysis. Three were reliably identified as cellulosebased or hair/wool. The degree of mineral preservation of the remaining two samples was too advanced to establish a conclusive identification. The wool-identified sample tested positive for the plant-based dye indigo. The application of FTIR analysis to archaeological textiles to identify both fibre type and dyestuffs, is not uncommon. However, its application to Viking Age period textile remains recovered from excavations in Norway has not been previously reported.