Archaeologists Reconsider Prehistoric Women’s Work

Elisabeth Wayland Barber, an archaeologist and linguist from Los Angeles, challenges the traditional focus on stone, bronze, and iron in prehistoric archaeology. She proposes recognizing a “Cord Age” to acknowledge women’s crucial textile work, often overlooked due to the perishable nature of fabrics. Barber’s research, spanning over 20 years, began with examining rare prehistoric textile fragments.

She notes evidence like sewing needles, beads found on skeletal remains, and a 17,000-year-old piece of cord discovered in the Lascaux caves, suggesting sophisticated fiber work predated agriculture. Marga Sánchez, a prehistorian at the University of Granada, adds that dental studies reveal prehistoric women used their mouths to aid in textile production, leaving distinctive wear patterns.

Both scholars argue that activities historically associated with women—textiles and cooking—were essential but dismissed as unimportant by archaeologists focused on more “durable” finds and societal norms. While proving the extent of prehistoric textile work remains difficult due to preservation issues, researchers continue to uncover indirect evidence of its significance.