Abstract
In this article, we focus on the analysis of dyed textile fragments uncovered at an early Iron Age (11th-10th centuries BCE) copper smelting site during new excavations in the Timna Valley conducted by the Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project, as well as those found by the Arabah Expedition at the Hathor Temple (Site 200), dated to the Late Bronze/early Iron Ages (13th-11th centuries BCE). Analysis by HPLC-DAD identified two organic dyestuffs, Rubia tinctorum L. and indigotin, from a plant source (probably Isatis tinctoria L.). They are among the earliest plants known in the dyeing craft and cultivated primarily for this purpose. This study provides the earliest evidence of textiles dyed utilizing a chemical dyeing process based on an industrial dyeing plant from the Levant. Moreover, our results shed new light on the society operating the copper mines at the time, suggesting the existence of an elite that was interested in these high quality textiles and invested efforts in procuring them by long-distance trade.
Highlights
In the course of the new excavations at Timna carried out as part of the Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project (Fig 1; [1]), many fragments of textiles and cordages were found: 116 fragments were uncovered during the 2013 and 2014 excavation seasons [2], and a few dozens of other textile fragments were uncovered in the successive 2015 and 2016 seasons
In the current study we identified dyes by applying the HPLC- method, which has been widely used since 1985 for the identification of dyes found in archaeological artifacts [23]
Compared to the results of known chemical standards and wool dyed with known dyestuffs (S1 Appendix) in their retention time (Rt) and their absorbance spectra, the compounds in the archaeological dye textile were detected
Summary
In the course of the new excavations at Timna carried out as part of the Central Timna Valley (CTV) Project (Fig 1; [1]), many fragments of textiles and cordages were found: 116 fragments were uncovered during the 2013 and 2014 excavation seasons [2], and a few dozens of other textile fragments were uncovered in the successive 2015 and 2016 seasons. The largest assemblage was discovered at Site 34 and dated by radiocarbon to the early Iron Age (late 11th-10th centuries BCE; [3]). The site, one of the largest copper smelting camps in the Timna Valley, is commonly called “Slaves’ Hill”, following the description of Nelson Glueck [4], who considered its wall and location on a mesa surrounded by cliffs as a means to enclose forced laborers or slaves. Archaeological textiles tend to be rare finds. Like any perishable organic material, they are subject to rapid decomposition in archaeological contexts and their preservation requires.
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