The Diversity of Dyes in History and Archaeology

Historical and archaeological research has revealed the importance of colour for our forefathers in every aspect of life. Much of this colour was provided by dyes, initially from naturally occurring sources, later produced by chemical means to give colours of a brilliance hitherto unimagined. The papers published in this collection, all presented at Dyes in History and Archaeology meetings, demonstrate how dyes were used through the centuries. If one century is chosen - the 17th century, for example - a fascinating comparison can be made between the dyes and dyeing methods used in Europe, in Turkey, in South America and in Japan, not only on textiles, but also in the pigments used for painting.