In my last few blog posts, I’ve written about why the Vikings came to Norfolk, their mythology and housing, but what would Vikings have worn? Is there any truth to the illustrations that have depicted them in the past?
Most Viking clothes were made of wool, leather, animal skins or linen. Silk was an expensive import and used sparingly in embroidery as a sign of social status.
What colours would
they have worn, though? Archaeological evidence at an abandoned trading post in
Busdorf, Germany revealed walnut shells leftover from brown dye production.
Other natural dyes would have come from lichen, leaves and stinging nettles to create purples, yellows and greens. For a vibrant red, the Vikings would have travelled overseas on trading expeditions for the madder plant and its roots.
