A Study on Textiles in the Paleolithic Age

This study aimed to provide basic data for clothing and textile education by exploring textiles from the Paleolithic Age. The study focused on archaeological excavations, examining the shape, material, use, and manufacturing techniques of textiles. A literature review was employed as the research method. The study yielded several key findings. First, Neanderthal strings, unearthed in southern France and dating back 52,000 years, were found to be very stable, made of three-plied yarn from the core of conifers. The production method was presumed to involve hand-weaving and twisting. Second, bundles of flax fibers excavated in a Dzudzuana cave in Georgia, dating back 34,000 years, revealed evidence of twisting and two-plied yarn. In particular, a number of dyed flax fibers—up to 38 colors—were discovered. Considering these findings alongside the traces of the fabric, researchers described these humans as the first weavers and suggested that they produced various living tools and clothing during this period. Third, fabric marks imprinted on clay were found in the Czech Republic, dating back 28,000 years. These marks indicated various weaving techniques, such as basket weaving, twining, and weaving, which were likely made from plant fibers. The manufacturing technology, employing spindles and non-heddle looms, showcased the advanced level of weaving technology for the time, surpassing that of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. These findings suggest that textile and fabric production and technology were crucial human survival tools even before the Paleolithic period.