Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
30 P. Mazäre Fig. 2. Twisted looping. a. Schematic drawing of the multiple twisted looping method (after Marian-Ciocoiu 2005); b. Imprint of a twisted looped net-like structure found on a Cucuteni pottery fragment from Trusesti (after Marian 2009). In Romania, the textiles created by needle looping were identified as imprints only on Cucuteni pottery (ca. 4500-3500 BC) (Table 1/3-6, 23; Fig. 9). Two types of structures were recognized: 1.1. Fabrics made by simple needle looping - dense structure (Table 1/3-6; Fig. 1); and 1.2. Fabrics made by twisted looping - Net-like structure (Table 1/23; Fig. 2). 2. Textiles made by interlinking (‘ambiguous’ Net-like structure) From our knowledge there is only one textile imprint of this structure discovered in Romania, at Cucuteni-Cetätuie (Table 1/7). It was interpreted as a textile fabric made by sprang (Marian EtAl. 2004, fig. 1-2; Marian 2009, 89, fig. 75). We consider that the production technique is ambiguous because structures of its kind could be created using a less evolved technique, like the linking (interlinking) method. Simple linking method Also know as interlinking (Collingwood 1974, 34), it is a primary method of producing mesh fabrics with a single continuous element (Seiler-Baldinger 1994,7). Basically the method consists of linking the newly formed row of meshes at the lowermost point of an existing row of meshes (Fig. 3/a). As in the case of the looping method, the linking can be worked using a needle. The end product is very elastic, and the meshes are elongated and of diamond shape. The structure thus produced resembles closely that created using the hourglass looping technique and its variations (Seiler-Baldinger 1994, 14-16). Sprang Sprang is a word of Scandinavian descent,4 generally used today to describe the ‘plaitingon-stretched-threads technique’ (Collingwood 1974, 34). According to A. Seiler-Baldinger (1994, 48-56) sprang textiles belong to the category of advanced techniques that imply the use of warp, being generally known as ‘warp methods’. Sprang is an active warp method. Basically the fabric is produced by interlinking, interlacing or intertwining the parallel threads of the warp that is fixed at both ends. There is no weft used during the working process. Instead several bars or sticks are holding the interlaced threads in position. The fabric is started from the two ends at the same time and growing towards the middle, the interworking being formed as mirror images 4 Romanian tesutul in bate, German Stäbchenflechterei, Collingwood 1974,249, fig. 65; Vuia 1914; Zaharia 2008, 137-138, 235, fig. 154, 267; still practiced today in some villages from the Pädureni region of Transylvania.
