Weaving

Spinning and weaving have been usual domestic activities during all the Middle Ages. Thus, it is not a surprise to find traces of them in Colletière. What is surprising is the number and the variety of the tools.

Linen and hemp, cultivated nearby the site, were relieved of their seeds by means of wooden jagged mortars. After the steeping on the shore, in low water, plants were crushed to take away the fibres.
Wool was shorn on sheep's backs with iron tools (" forces ") and then washed in large buckets.

		Vegetable or animal fibres were then carded on wooden combs with long and solid iron teeth. The hanks obtained were set on distaffs. The spindles were moulded to obtain threads rolled up on bobbins ; more than 300 of them have been brought to light, showing how important the textile activity was.
Two shuttles, probably coming from an horizontal loom, have also been found.