Mysteries from an Egyptian Oasis: Reevaluating a Group of Archaeological Textiles

Abstract: Seven textiles from The Textile Museum Collection’s extensive array of Eastern Mediterranean archaeological textiles hold particular significance for understanding the period surrounding the rise of Islam in Egypt. Originally attributed to the Mamluk period when acquired in 1930, subsequent advancements in archaeological textile research and comparative analysis have called this dating into question. These findings highlight the need to reassess this group of seven textiles, challenging earlier assumptions and situating them within a broader historical and cultural framework. This article examines their material composition and the results of carbon-14 testing, which significantly alter their chronological placement. These insights are paving the way for further research into their iconography and sociocultural contexts.