women, cloth, and society in early times
334 pages
English language
Published Feb. 27, 1994 by W.W. Norton.
New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women's unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies. Barber "weaves the strands of mythology and literature, archaeology, ethnology, and documented history into a rich tapestry" says John Noble Wilford, New York Times Book Review. Photos and drawings. Author lectures.
I found the physical work of the history/archaeology discussed here to be fascinating. Tools connect us through time so of course we would have to recreate old tools to understand past ways of living.
I've read this book twice. Essential reading if you want to understand the lives of women in the past. To summarise: the industrial revolution freed women from the full time job of keeping their families clothed. What I take from it: evolving a sustainable garment industry is essential to maintaining the social gains women have made in the past century.
