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Economy and Respectability: Textiles from the North Brisbane Burial Ground

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Abstract

Textile remains were discovered during a salvage excavation at the site of the North Brisbane Burial Ground, a nineteenth-century cemetery in the city of Brisbane, Australia. Ninety-six textile samples were collected at excavation, comprising 39 twill weaves, 17 tabby weaves, one haircord weave, one satin weave, three knitted fabrics, one piece of felt and 34 masses of loose wool packing. Most of the woven textiles recovered were coffin coverings or coffin linings. Similarly, the majority of non-woven textile samples were also associated with coffins and their dressing. Five of the identified textiles were likely to have been fragments of garments worn by the deceased.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the efforts of all those involved in the excavations of the North Brisbane Burial ground, particularly Ms. Tam Smith and Dr. Kevin Rains. We would also like to thank Dr Michael Marendy, Senior Curator, Cultures and History Program, Queensland Museum.

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Correspondence to Jonathan Prangnell.

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Prangnell, J., McGowan, G. Economy and Respectability: Textiles from the North Brisbane Burial Ground. Int J Histor Archaeol 17, 487–519 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-013-0231-4

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