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• 1 media/Needle.JPG 2017-05-22T08:42:12-07:00 Iron Sewing Needle 7 Object Page plain 2017-09-21T23:00:00-07:00 This is an iron sewing needle, excavated in 2005 from a site southeast of Akureyri in Northern Iceland. The artefact is a single, irregular piece of dark grey or brown metal that tapers to a slight point on one end, showing significant signs of corrosion and a buildup of accreted material. Iron needles stand in contrast to the more traditional bone or wood needles. While iron needles were superior for sewing as well as more durable, iron was more scarce than both wood and bone. Additionally Iron needles were less useful than their bone or wood counterparts for the older practice of naalbinding, a needlework similar to crochet involving passing a free end of thread through the looped opposite end.^[1] However the durability and versatility of iron needles made them invaluable when carried. This needle gives us some precious perspective on what the responsibilities and experiences of women in the Norse world, as the needle for a Norse woman is analogous to the belt-pouch of the norseman.
  
  These needles were harder to come by than wooden or bone needles, and were useful beyond direct sewing. There is some thought that extra needles were used to secure clothing and garments. Having a needle on hand allowed for on demand garment construction, embellishment and repair, all vital tasks. Further, iron needles were crucial for the practice of sail making, as the thinner but overly brittle wood or bone needles could not navigate the thick wool canvas well. The needle provides us a glimpse of what a woman in the Norse world would equip herself with daily.