From experimental flax processing to fibre microscopy: first observations

This work presents preliminary results of the microscopic analysis of flax samples systematically collected during the successive phases of flax processing, following a traditional method of retting, braking, scutching and heckling. We propose that the different thicknesses of the fibre bundles and the types of processing debris observed in various stages during the analysis may serve as keys for identifying this process also in archaeological contexts. Considering the scarcity of archaeological evidence of flax processing, a detailed study of flax macro-remains in view of the presented experimental data may help identify this type of elusive information, advancing our understanding of linen production in the past.