An Early Hairstyle
This rather elaborate hairstyle is from a bog rind at Elling Mose, Denmark. It dates from approximately 100 B.C. The woman's hair was about 90 cm long, and it was arranged in the following manner:
“All the hair except that on the back, was combed up and braided in a 3 strand plait down to the back hair; all the hair was then divided into 7 switches, each twisted, and braided together in 2 pairs and one triple, to make a 3-strand plait. At the end of the plait, the hair was twisted into 2 switches. Then the plait was wound twice round itself above the nape or the neck."
Figure 1 shows the illustration of the cape, and presumably the hairstyle, worn by the woman. Berta of Southern Isles and I played around with this, although neither one or us has hair that is close to 90 cm long. Figure 2a shows a two-strand braid, Figure 2b shows a three-strand braid, and Figure 2c shows our interpretation of the hairstyle based on the above description.
Figure 2a |
Figure 2b |
Figure 2c |
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Source: Coles, Bryony and John. Peoples of the Wetlands. Thames and Hudson, 1989.
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