Due to some reason that I still haven't found, my facebook access was suddenly blocked, and the only way to free it up again was to take a video selfie, or a photo selfie, and upload that.

Apparently this is a safety feature now, if there is a doubt that your login or account is legitimate. Or so.

I did consider just closing down my facebook, but then I sent in a random selfie, it took about an hour, and yes, I am on the big time sink again. Though I don't hang out there a lot, but occasionally  interesting things pop up there, so it's not all a waste of time. For instance, today I found a call for papers (which, admittedly, I also have gotten per mail, so I wouldn't have missed out).

It's for PunTex International Seminar "Weaving Knowledge", whcih will take place in Nicosia in September 25-26. Abstracts are accepted until March 15, so if you'd like to take part in this seminar about experimental archaeology applied to textile production, you can find out more in this pdf here:
 

I have managed to get myself involved in yet another conference, which I'm very much looking forward to - and the Call for Papers is now out and open:

CALL FOR PAPERS

Instrumentum International Meetings

From fibre to fabric. Multidisciplinary approaches to spinning and weaving in preindustrial European societies

Clermont-Ferrand, FR, October 7-9, 2025

The upcoming Instrumentum International Meetings focus on fibers, thread, textiles, and the loom in pre-industrial European societies. The increasing number of discoveries of archaeological textile fragments and the development of technical methods for their study (among others, Moulherat 2008; Gleba, Mannering 2012) indeed reveal a great diversity in the ways threads were prepared and handled.

Following on from the research carried out in 1999 by the Lattes (F, 34) colloquium "Archéologie du textile des origines au V^e siècle" (Cardon, Feugère 2000) and by subsequent European colloquiums (notably Gillis, Nosch 2014; Bustamante-Álvarez, Sánchez López and Jiménez Ávila 2021; Lipkin, Wright and Ruhl 2023), the 2025 Instrumentum Association Meetings propose to bring together researchers and specialists to provide an updated overview of current knowledge. This time, the focus is on the reconstruction of operational chains related to textile manufacturing, from raw material acquisition to the finished product, including spinning and weaving.

The conference is organizing with partners : Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and University Clermont-Auvergne UR 1001 CHEC, UMR 5140-ASM Montpellier, Bargoin Museum and Clermont-Ferrand Métropole, Ville de Clermont-Ferrand, Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme, Service régional de l'Archéologie et Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, INRAP and association MOIRES.

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The diversity of discovery contexts shows that the use of textiles in ancient European societies was multifaceted and ubiquitous, taking on various forms. However, the role of their manufacture and consumption in daily life activities—whether domestic, artisanal, funerary, or ritual—is only partially perceptible, mostly through non-perishable tools or instruments. Textiles and production structures are rarely preserved, reaching us either through impressions (negative forms) or altered organic remains (mineralized, calcified, carbonized) or unaltered. These remains are sparse, struggling to convey their importance and complexity. A search for the presence of looms in European archaeological contexts is all the more necessary when considering the significance of this instrument in non-European cultures (Brumfiel 2006), both in its omnipresent use and its social symbolism.

The chronological and geographical frameworks are broadly open and concern all pre-industrial societies on a European scale. This openness allows for a larger cross-referencing of available sources and for confronting and enriching data from archaeology, social anthropology, history of techniques, and experimentation. This enables the observation of the continuity or evolution of techniques and artefacts related to textiles, as well as the textiles themselves, through time and geographic space. Moreover, highlighting natural raw materials, ancient techniques and low environmental impact production methods aligns this scientific event with current sustainable development issues.

The first section is dedicated to threads, of animal, vegetable, metallic, or mineral origin, and spinning. It will provide an opportunity to:

-Review the instruments/tools and processes for acquiring, transforming, and dyeing raw materials;

-Present new findings on methods for identifying and preserving archaeological fibers and threads;

-Highlight potential choices of threads or weaving methods in creating finished products meeting specific creative criteria;

-Discuss studies aiming to define the gender and social status of those practicing spinning;

-Explore the symbolism associated with spinning objects (distaffs, spindles, whorls, spinning wheels, etc.).

The second section concerns looms, which occupy a central place among the means and tools used in fabric production, and other weaving instruments. The topics addressed include:

-Their identification (remains, negative impressions, non-preserved remains whose absence does not reflect reality) in light of the diversity of elements known through textual sources (literature), epigraphy and iconography;

-The current state of typological studies (morphologies, dimensions, constituent materials, shapes of finished products);

-Their place in the living spaces, whether domestic or artisanal (workshop);

-The gender and social status of those who make and/or use them, as well as the transmission of knowledge and craft functions within a community;

-The symbolic dimensions of the objects.

References

Brumfiel 2006: E. Brumfiel, Cloth, Gender, Continuity, and Change Fabricating Unity in Anthropology, American Anthropologist, New Series, 108-4, 2006, 862-877.

Bustamante-Álvarez, Sánchez López et Jiménez Ávila 2021: M. Bustamante-Álvarez, E. H. Sánchez López et J. Jiménez Ávila (dirs), Purpureae Vestes VII. Redefining Textile Handcraft. Structures, Tools and Production Processes, Proceedings of the VII the International Symposium on Textiles and Dyes in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Granada, Spain 2-4 October 2019), Université de Grenade, Grenade, 2021.

Cardon, Feugère 2000: D. Cardon, M. Feugère (dirs.), Archéologie des textiles des origines au V^e siècle. Actes du colloque de Lattes, octobre 1999. Monographies Instrumentum, 14, M. Mergoil eds, Montagnac, 2000.

Gillis, Nosch 2014: C. Gillis, M.-L. Nosch (dirs.), Ancient textiles : production, craft and society : proceedings of the First International Conference on Ancient Textiles, Oxbow Books, 2014.

Gleba, Mannering 2012: M. Gleba, U. Mannering (dirs.), Textiles and textile production in Europe from prehistory to AD 400, Oxbow Books, 2012.

Lipkin,Wright et Ruhl 2023: S. Lipkin, K. Wright et E. Ruhl (dirs.), Interdisciplinary Approaches to Textile Research: Northern and Central European Textile Production and Use of Textiles and Clothing from the Neolithic to the Modern Period. The Proceedings of NESAT XIV. 23. - 26. August 2021, Oulu, Archaeological Society of Finland, Helsinki, 2023.

Moulherat 2008: C. Moulherat, Archéologie des textiles : une nouvelle méthodologie appliquée à l'étude des tissus minéralisés, Nouvelles de l'Archéologie, 114, 2008, 18-23.

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The colloquium is open to archaeologists, historians, art historians, anthropologists, and craftspeople working with historical or reconstructed techniques. Presentations (20 minutes) and posters may be drawn from artefacts (instruments, thread and weaving tools, textile remains), iconographic representations, documentary studies, imaging and physico-chemical analysis results, reconstructions or experimental results, craft pratices, comparative ethnological and anthropological research, and studies of textual and epigraphic sources. The presentations will focus on ancient European societies from Protohistory to the pre-industrial modern era. The authorized languages are French and English.

Organizing Committee (FR)

Isabelle Bertrand, Nicolas Delferrière, Elsa Desplanques, Stéphanie Raux et Emeline Retournard

Scientific Committee

The Organizing Committee members and Catherine Breniquet (FR), Macarena Bustamente-Álvarez (ES), Dominique Cardon (FR), Elisabeth Dospel Williams (US), Margarita Gleba (IT), Francisco B. Gomes (PT), Audrey Gouy (FR), Katrin Kania (DE), Christina Margariti (GR), Fabienne Médard (FR), Louise Quillien (FR), Laurence Riviale (FR), Stella Spantidaki (GR), Agata Ulanowska (PL)

Location

Maison des Sciences de l'Homme

4 rue Ledru, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand

The CfP is open until April 30; you find the contact data and a form for application via the website of Instrumentum Europe, or click this link to directly download the CfP and form in French and English.

In case you're looking for a place to do a PhD with getting money, here might be something for you - providing you're not averse to metal and metalworking:

Newcastle University (UK) announces a call for a PhD scholarship on a project titled Technological choice and variability in prehistoric metalworking: a transdisciplinary investigation, funded by the AHRC Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership as a Collaborative Doctoral Award. The partner organisation is ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC, UKRI.

Project Summary

This project investigates variability and social choice in prehistoric metalworking through an innovative transdisciplinary approach that integrates experimental archaeology, materials science, and a critical review of social studies on craft practice. The student will develop a novel understanding of artisan skill, sensory perception, communities of practice, and craft specialisation in prehistoric bronzeworking. The research will provide new insights into the social context of early European metallurgy, reassessing the enduring link between metallurgy and the rise of social complexity. Through this work, the student will acquire a unique transdisciplinary skillset that will significantly enhance their intellectual profile and employability.

Prospective candidates are advised to look at the full project proposal here: https://northernbridge.ac.uk/applyforastudentship/cda/

Value and duration of the award

Tuition fees paid at a rate equivalent to the UK home fee. For international students, Newcastle University will generously cover the difference between home and international fees through the university's Global Scholarships Scheme. Costs for relocating to the UK cannot be covered.

A yearly stipend paid in regular instalments. Awards increase every year, typically with inflation. As an indicator, the level for 2024/2025 is £19,237.

A contribution to research costs of £600 per annum. Additionally, award holders can apply to a Northern Bridge fund reserved to support primary research costs.

Duration of the award: 3.5 years full-time or 7 years part-time. Funding can be extended up to 4 years by undertaking a placement at the partner organisation or another non-higher-education institution. The maximum duration of a UK PhD is 4 years full-time (8 years part-time).

As one would expect for a PhD thing, you need to have a Master's degree in Archaeological science or something similar or an MSc in a relevant science degree, as well as some knowledge about metallurgy and materials. Bonus points if you are familiar with bronze casting and have experience there. In addition, the usual stuff for working together with other researchers (including interdisciplinary work), writing scientific papers etcetera (and of course the thesis), and working towards deadlines in the academic field.

If you think that might be something for you, go find out more on the official website at https://northernbridge.ac.uk/applyforastudentship/cda/ for details about everything (look under "recruiting programs" and scroll down, unless something else sounds even more like the thing for you). Deadline for your application according to the guidelines on that page is Monday 3^rd February 2025, midnight (UK time). 

Leeds International Medieval Congress is having its CfPs running, and one of the sessions will be "Threads of Knowledge": 

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It looks like it's the time of year for announcements of textile events again! First of all, one for a conference in the UK in June: 

And then, also in the UK, the Early Textiles Study Group offers a practical course. Here's the description, and if you are interested, go to  https://www.earlytextilesstudygroup.org/etsg-courses.html for more!

It seems to be the season for CfPs - so here's some more:

The European Association of Archaeologists have extended their Call for the 30th Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy. The conference will run August 28-31, and the new deadline is February 12.  You can find out more about the conference and also the submission portal via their website.

There will surely be quite a few textile sessions there again, and one of them is Session #733, Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Archaeology of Roman Textiles. 

And we go on with the series of CfPs - this time, it's sort of on my own behalf:

I am very happy to announce that the Call for Papers for the European Textile Forum 2023 is now open!

We will look into "Dimensions of Dyeing: Colours, Mordants, Processes."
The European Textile Forum in 2023 will take place in Mayen, Germany, in the Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology (part of the Leibniz Research Institute for Archaeology), November 6 to November 12. It is a small conference which aims to explore archaeological and historical textiles in both theory and practice. For this, we combine paper presentations and workshops or practical sessions on the paper's topic. These practical parts are either led by the presenter, for instance to teach a reconstructed method or technique and have the rest of the participants try it, or they can take more of a "community brainstorming" form, if the method is not yet known. With this combination, we also want to connect practical specialists and theoretical specialists.

This year it is time to look at colours and dyeing. Colours played an important part in historical textiles. Bright colours did not only show off wealth, they could also have symbolic meanings. Dyeing processes can range from very simple, with little knowledge and effort needed, to very complex, just as the dyestuff can be very cheap - such as leaves or walnut husks - to extremely expensive, such as Murex snails for true purple. At the Forum in 2023, we want to look at the many dimensions of dyes, dyeing processes, and the use of colour in textiles - including special cases such as the re-use of coloured textiles to make painting pigments, or the use of paints to colour textiles. Mordants and their role in dyeing should, of course, not be forgotten.

We'd like to invite you to do a presentation or workshop, or both, to explore the different procedures, tools, and materials related to mordanting and dyeing or otherwise colouring textiles. Work space outside and inside is available, so it will be possible to dye on open fire, or indoor using heating plates or similar equipment. Presentations can be between 15 and 45 minutes, with workshop time or time for practical exploration afterwards as necessary.
For more information, take a look at the full Call for Papers on our website. Registration for the conference is also open now, and you can find the registration form here.

Please do also pass this Call for Papers on to others who might be interested - thank you!