ΗΝΑΜ inv. no Π 551

This unique find represents non-textile fibre technology from early Mycenae, a coarse mat or basketry made from rushes rather than standard woven fabric. The remains represent a single-layer specimen, preserved in extremely degraded condition. The material and construction suggest a band-like or mat structure, rather than a standard woven textile. The main fragments are coarse, flat bands, lacking regular weave, and certain technical details such as thread count could not be determined. 

During the macroscopic study, we observed traces of red colour on the surface of the threads. Philippe Walter and Clarisse Chavanne from the Sorbonne University performed a non-destructive hyperspectral analysis on a fragment and detected the presence of hematite, suggesting the piece may have been associated with a container of red ochre or a ritual context.

The examination on the optical microscope did not give clear results; apart from the vegetal nature of the fibres, it was not possible to determine the species of the plant in this stage. Collaboration with a specialist in order to perform an archaeobotanical examination of the phytoliths and identify the exact species of the plant would be very helpful. For the moment, Dr Georgia Tsartsidou from the Wiener Lab proposes the identification as rushes.