Stinging Nettles Suggest Long-Distance Bronze Age Trade
Nettle cloth found at a Danish burial mound probably originated from the Austrian Alps, indicating trade connections existed between these two areas around 800 B.C.
Located on the island of Funen, the Lusehøj barrow is about 36 meters in diameter and 6 meters high, and is the richest known Bronze Age grave in Denmark.
A bronze urn found at the site contains the bones of a wealthy man who died around 2,800 years ago. His remains were wrapped in stinging nettle cloth.
But the textile was not made from local fibers, according to new international research using strontium isotope levels to determine where the plants grew.
“The levels indicate that the nettles grew in an area with geologically old bedrock,” said study co-author Karin Margarita Frei at the University of Copenhagen in a press release.
“We can only find rock with similar levels of strontium isotope in Sweden and Norway as well as in Central Europe.”
The bronze container is probably from the Kärnten-Steiermark region in Austria, and tar found in the grave could also be from that area.
“Bronze Age Danes got their bronze from Central Europe, and imports were controlled by rich and powerful men,” said textile archaeologist Ulla Mannering at the National Museum of Denmark in the release. “We can imagine how a bronze importer from Funen in Denmark died on a business trip to Austria.”
“His bones were wrapped in an Austrian nettle cloth and placed in a stately urn that his travel companions transported back to Denmark.”
Although flax was cultivated on a large scale in Central Europe at that time, fabric made from wild nettles were still in demand because its quality was comparable to raw silk.
“Until recently the Lusehøj nettle cloth was the oldest nettle cloth we knew, and the only Bronze Age nettle cloth, but with our new findings we actually have no evidence that nettle textiles were produced in Denmark at all during the Bronze Age,” Mannering concluded.
The research was published online in Scientific Reports on Sept. 28.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EpochTimesSci & Youtube: www.youtube.com/EpochTimesSci
Please send any feedback to [email protected]
2012-09-30 03:20:07
Source:
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,708,935,241 |
| Stories: | 8,451,597 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
