The interactive charts on this page are generated dynamically from the current contents of the database. They visualise the key features of the extant textiles from the Roman world: what raw materials they were made of, what types of yarn, and manufacture techniques were used across different regions.
The graphs should be interpreted with caution, considering the scope and limitations of the data (learn more). Some regions (e.g. Egypt) have yielded thousands of textiles from Roman-period settlements, while others have yielded only a few finds from specific contexts like shipwrecks (France) and burials. The chronology of many finds is uncertain and some sites contain finds from different periods.
To create more detailed charts, differentiated by date, you can download the detailed data tables.
Fibres
This chart shows what types of raw material were used at various sites across the Roman world. The picture which emerges here is shaped by what raw materials were available in each place, the preferences of textile makers and users, as well as preservation conditions (acidic environments favour the preservation of proteinaceous fibres like wool, while alkaline environments favour the preservation of cellulosic fibres like linen).
The category ‘Other’ includes textiles of mixed materials, unidentified plant fibres and animal hair, and rare fibres like camel hair and palm leaf. The category ‘Unidentified’ covers cases where the fibres were too poorly preserved to be identified or information was missing. The fibre identification methods can be checked in the detailed data tables.
Weaves
This chart shows what types of weave have been found across different regions of the Roman Empire. The graph reflects both local production and imported textiles.