Thermal and tactile properties of nettle, flax and wool cloth

Abstract The modern textile industry uses a wide range of natural and artificial materials for clothing. In ancient Europe, only a few materials were locally available: wool and plant fibres such as flax, hemp and nettle. Nettle differs from other plant fibres in that it grows wild and does not need cultivation. It was long believed that after agriculture was established, nettle served only as an inferior substitute. However, a 2800-year-old textile from Lusehøj in Denmark shows that nettle was deliberately chosen in an agricultural society to produce high-quality textiles. Why this choice was made remains unclear. One possibility is that nettle has different properties from other fibres. This study investigates the thermal resistance of modern nettle, flax, and wool cloths made by hand. Results show nettle is similar to flax, while wool has a higher thermal capacity. A tactile test also found nettle and flax difficult to distinguish.