Basketry accessories: footwear, bags and fans in ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians had —by the New Kingdom— developed many basket making and matting techniques. These techniques were not only used for making all types and sizes of baskets and mats, but were also adopted for making other accessories such as bags, fans and different types of footwear, that seem to have been heavily used. Materials and techniques of nine objects consisting of 2 sandals, 2 shoes, 2 bags, 2 fans and a model of a mat at the Agricultural Museum in Giza were carefully studied.In some cases the object was made of one plant, but in other cases more than one plant were identified. The materials used for making the different objects were identified using light microscope. Four plant materials were identified in the studied objects; Hyphaene thebaica Mart., Phoenix dactylifera L., Cyperus papyrus L. and Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf., in addition to a gypsum layer in one of the sandals. Five different techniques were used in making the different objects; both bags were made using the twining technique. The soles of the sandals were made using either a plaiting or sewing technique. Cordage was used in the manufacture in some of the objects. The fans were made using the binding and sewing technique.

Research highlights► Materials and techniques of nine objects consisting of 2 sandals, 2 shoes, 2 bags, 2 fans and a model of a mat at the Agricultural Museum in Giza were carefully studied. ► The materials used for making the different objects were identified using light microscope. Four plant materials were identified in the studied objects; Hyphaene thebaica Mart., Phoenix dactylifera L., Cyperus papyrus L. and Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf., in addition to a gypsum layer in one of the sandals. ►In this research the authors try to link the uses of plants native in Ancient Egypt in objects made for either daily use or funerary purposes.