Pompeii 84B (type 1) purple/gold

Catalogue number Ts 230 Inventory number 84B Holding institution Naples, National Archaeological Museum

Context

Site Pompeii Context Pompeii

Basic information

Dimensions L. 3 mm W. 2 mm Object condition Small fragment Preservation state calcified Object type Textile Fabric structure tabby

	System 1	System 2
Material
Fibre identification method
Colour	purple	purple
Yarn structure	single	single
Twist strength
Twist	z	z
Twist angle average
Twist angle range	35 - 50	35 - 50
Diameter average
Diameter range	0.1	0.1
Thread count average
Thread count range

FURTHER DETAILS

Pattern The thread count is not identifiable. Preserved traces of gold foil, originally intended to embellish the fabric in the form of metal thread or foil. Other features RAMAN–SERS and HPLC–HRMS analyses confirmed the use of shellfish purple, likely derived from Hexaplex trunculus L.

References

Ciccola, Alssandro, I. Serafini, F. Ripanti, F. Coletti, F. Vincenti, A. Bianco, M. Galli, R. Curini, and P. Postorino. “Dyes from the Ashes: Discovering and Characterizing Dyes from Mineralized Textiles, in Molecules,” no. 25.6 (2020). https://doi.org/https://doi. org/10.3390/molecules25061417.

Coletti, Francesca. I tessuti di Pompei e d’Area Vesuviana. A3TEX Series, I. Roma: Edizioni Quasar, 2025.

Galli, M., F. Coltti, A. Ciccola, and I. Srafini. “Archeologia e Archeometria Del Tessuto Antico: Un Gruppo Di Manufatti Aurei Dall’area Vesuviana (Pompei, Ercolano, Oplontis),” no. 26.1 (2020): 205–23.

Galli, M., F. Coltti, and S. Mitschke. “Textile Culture at Pompeii” Project.” In Textiles, and Dyes in the Mediterranean Economy and Society. International Symposium on Textiles and Dyes in Th Ancient Mediterranean World, edited by M Gleba, M. S. Busana, and F. Meo, 275–93. Purpureae Vestes 6. Zaragoza: Libros Pórticos, 2018.

Data recorded by Francesca Coletti Data entered by Francesca Coletti Date of study 2016