Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

NAQLUN

EGYPT

whole, at the same time facilitating their
folding. The length of these mats is from
1.77 to 2.20 m, the width from 1.6 to
1.66 m. The warp/dm2 number is 6-7,
the weft/dm2 from 14 to 20. Double mats
are seldom decorated, the sole exception

in our assemblage being Nd.02.230,
which features two pairs of symmetrical
rectangular panels of module pattern
(over 3, under 1 with a shift of one), each
panel being 8 cm high and 19 cm wide
(Fig. 7).

MATS MADE IN TWINING TECHNIQUE

Five of the mats discovered this year at
Naqlun represent a basketry technique
called twining. The active element in this
technique is moved spirally around the
passive warp strands in two planes, oriented
in S- and Z-direction; if woven alternately,
the resulting pattern is V-shaped. The mats
found at Naqlun used a double strand for
the weft.

In length these mats reached from 1.45
to 2.12 m, in width from 1.02 to 1.6 m.
The warp/dm2 number ranged from 7 to 9,
the weft/dm2 from 12 to 16, and the
number of V-shaped rows from 6 to 8. The
craftsmanship in the case of these mats is
good as a rule, they are often decorated and
are occasionally fitted with handles. Three
of the mats (Nd.02.228, Nd.02.289,


Fig. 8. Mat woven in twining technique with loop at one edge (Nd.02.232) from T. 317
[Photo A. Lyzwa-Piber)

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