Fur in Birka. An examination of hair residue on penannular brooches

Abstract

This article deals with the identification of hair found on Viking Age penannular brooches from Birka, Björkö parish, Uppland. The hair was covered with corro-sion from contact with metal. The corrosion was dissolved using an EDTA solution. The results show the preserving effect of corrosion on ancient hair. The hairs were identified as to type by studying size as well as the shape of the outermost layer, the cuticle, and correspondance with recent reference material. Examination of the penannular brooches and the position of the hair residues show that the hairs most probably come from the barders of cloaks. All the surviving beaver hair is underhair which indicates that these cloak trimmings were made of pulled beaver fur, i.e. the fur had been finished off by pulling out the overhairs. Trade in pulled beaver fur is confirmed by written sources from the 9th and 10th centuries. Pulled beaver fur is interpreted as a status symbol: it might also have served as a symbol of rank.