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<p class=MsoNormal>I agree that I feel the<span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span>Annika Larsson interpretation
is not practical. I have heard what the SCA does describes as “re-creational
archeology” – meaning that we figure things out by re-creating them &
evaluating how they actually work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Hrefna has an excellent point about the possibility of “the
archeologist's notes are wrong or even open to interpretation”. I recall early
in the day, a book described the garment that the broaches were found attached
to as “pleated”. I recall burning several fingers ironing down *<b>pleats</b>*
in pieces of linen for a Viking underdress. Several years later, when a new
book actually published a picture of the find, it was obvious to the sewers
that the fabric was just gathered as if as handful was scrunched to be pinned
under the broach – very different!!! Depends on your point of reference.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I have also heard the interpretation that Viking Valkyries
had those pointy metal bras because male archeologists found these cup-like
metal things somewhere on the chest of the bodies, and so assumed these *<b>had</b>*
to have covered breasts. Again, as Hrefna has posted, not at all comfortable
or practical!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Amaryllis (who had discussions w/ Ellisef, and feel the interpretation
she published makes the most sense – but I may obviously be biased!)<span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
sca-bmdl-bounces+schwoegl=verizon.net@lists.andrew.cmu.edu
[mailto:sca-bmdl-bounces+schwoegl=verizon.net@lists.andrew.cmu.edu] <b>On
Behalf Of </b>Raven<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 05, 2010 7:51 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> sca-bmdl@lists.andrew.cmu.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [SCA-BMDL] Viking Garb<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Apron dresses are easy to make. If you are looking for
an easy pattern, check out http://sca.uwaterloo.ca/mjc/sca/aprond.html. The
pattern can be made to any length and produces few scraps.<br>
<br>
Another common style requires only a rectangle of cloth plus some straps and
loops. Simply wrap a wide piece of wool around your body. The top which
is above the bust should overlap between the broaches. Add straps and
loops to secure the broaches. <br>
<br>
A third type of apron dress which is popular in Europe is a tube of wool with
the top pleated over the bust. One find from Bergen suggests that the
pleats extended under the arm. These pleats are fine and shallow.
Pleats on museum recreations extend a few inches down the breast. Again add
loops and straps to hold the apron dress up.<br>
<br>
Regarding he article: personally, I don't like Annika Larsson's
interpretation because it makes at least one bead string a structural element,
drags cloth in the dirt, and situated the broaches in an uncomfortable
location. The next several paragraphs are clothing geekery, so skip to the end
if you are not interested. <br>
<br>
<geekery><br>
<br>
Beads in the Viking Age were expensive and small. Really small, think
larger seed beads.* These things were also expensive luxury items. Ibn Fadlan
mentions women pricing them at 10000 dirhams each. Given that, would you
want to put your most expensive possessions on the string that links the
closers of your skirt? What happens if that string breaks? In Annika Larsson's
interpretation, this would be easy with the bead string located about the waist
and connecting the broaches. For example, imagine if someone stepped on
the skirt as you are walking. You continue forward while the skirt is stationary
with only that thin string of beads to keep you in your skirt. Think it will
hold? In this interpretation the bead sting is structural, necessary to keep
the skirt from flying open. Given where I've seen beads located in grave
finds, and how long some of those strings at, I believe the bead strings are
decorative only.<br>
<br>
The train in the reconstruction is very plausible. It probably comes from
the images of women with trains on tapestries from the Oseburg find. These
women are believed to be in a funeral processions. However, trains aren't
practical. The working woman** would probably find them a nuisance feeding the
pigs, cooking, or weaving. The Oseburg find has an image of a woman
wearing a mid-calf skirt and showing her feet. This is probably a more accurate
depiction of everyday wear. <br>
<br>
As for the broaches, Annika Larsson's idea is that the location of the broaches
in the grave is exactly where women wore them on their bodies. She isn't
taking into consideration that the grave might have been disturbed, that the
corpse may have shifted as it decomposed, that the body may not have been
placed in a straight posture, or that the archeologist's notes are wrong or
even open to interpretation. She is right that if the broaches are located in
the middle of chest then they could be located over the breast. However they
would then swing relatively freely over a sensitive part of the body which
would make the garment difficult to wear. Her location for the broaches is
called further into question when you consider that the apron dress is believe
to be descended from the peplos. On the peplos, the broaches are on the
shoulders. So to get from the peplos to her interpretation, the broaches have
to slide down the chest and over the swell of the bust. While the broaches
certainly moved in the direction over time, I think she takes things too far.<br>
<br>
</geekery><br>
<br>
Putting forth a new interpretation of clothing is a good thing. Annika
Larsson is brave for doing so. However, one must be ready for that
interpretation to be evaluated and critiqued. This is vital if our
understanding of the past is to evolve and improve. Without attempting new
ideas and examining them against surviving evidence, people would still believe
that Viking wore horned helmets and dressed in furs. <br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Hope this was helpful,<br>
Hrefna in heppna<br>
<br>
<br>
*There were many larger exceptions, but for the most part large seed beads were
the norm.<br>
<br>
** By working woman I mean every woman in the household. There is little
evidence for ladies of leisure in the Viking Age.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>----------------------------------------------------------<br>
And this above all to thine own self be true.<br>
- Shakespeare, "Hamlet"<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Val Corbin <aeval4@hotmail.com><br>
<b>To:</b> SCA LIST <sca-bmdl@lists.andrew.cmu.edu><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Mon, January 4, 2010 3:11:17 PM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [SCA-BMDL] Viking Garb<br>
</span><br>
Does anyone have any suggestions for a viking apron dress pattern? I
found like a million online. Wondering whats the favorite out there.<br>
<br>
Also did you guys see this????<br>
<br>
http://www.fossilscience.com/research/Vikings_did_not_dress_the_way_we_thought.asp<br>
<br>
If this lass finds more evidence... Our viking ladies may be a little more
risque. <br>
<br>
<br>
Lady Aibell<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM
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target="_blank">Sign up now.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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