From Fleece to Thread : Interdisciplinary Evidence for the Origins of Sheep Wool

Sheep wool was used in the production of textiles across Europe from prehistoric times onwards, but its origins remain unclear. Textiles are rarely preserved in the archaeological record, but further indirect evidence supports their use, such as the study of textile tools, osteology, and terminology. Moreover, new analytical methods, such as protein and DNA analysis, enable the identification of wool fibres and the study of their genetic history. Although limited by fibre degradation, these methods offer valuable insights into the ancient use of wool. In this article, we combine the evidence from these complementary approaches: archaeological textiles and tools, osteological remains, terminology and historical linguistics, and proteomics and genomics, and propose a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective on the origins of wool production and suggest directions for future research.