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Textile Terminology of Hittite Anatolia

Objective

This research project will provide an accurate and updated analysis of the Hittite textile terminology. This will be achieved through a precise examination of the preserved epigraphic sources.
In order to pursue this analysis, the research project needs as a necessary first step the creation of a complete corpus of all epigraphic sources of the “Hittite textiles”, the first of its kind.
The methodological approach will be based on a meticulous lexical and etymological investigation on verbal - noun paradigms referring to textiles in the Hittite world and professional titles.
The primary objective is to create a comprehensive and useful dictionary of textile terminology of Hittite Anatolia.
I will integrate my own academic background skills in Hittite language and philology with my host institution’s expertise in the fields of experimental archaeology of ancient textile remains and tools.
Thus, I will combine the information provided by specialists of the Centre for Textile Research with the data which I will collect by analysing the Hittite textual documentation; not only administrative and economic texts, but also all those Hittite written sources that potentially describe the palace management of textile production, the accounts of weaving workshops (including terms for crafting and tools), the luxury goods as finished products (not only cloth, but also clothes and furnishings) and the textile items used in symbolic contexts. The comparative methodological approach is justified by the fact that ancient textiles rarely survive, not only in Anatolia, but also all over the ancient Near East and Mediterranean area, with the notable exception of Egypt. Fortunately the Scandinavian area provides many Bronze Age finds that have been already accurately analysed by Danish and Swedish specialists in recent years. Their technological competence will be very useful to me in order to better define textile terms attested in the written documentation.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
EU contribution
€ 230 809,80
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 Kobenhavn
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Ivan Kristoffersen (Mr.)
Links
Total cost
No data