Potentially Authentic Textile?

[thehunter123]

Hey y’all. Came across this interesting piece in a plowed field in Iredell Co, NC today. Can anyone offer any opinions as to how old this may be? Is it modern? Thanks in advance!

 

[Older The Better]

That would be a heck of a find, I don’t see anything wrong with the beads but I don’t hear much about textiles being preserved in nc, that’s usually a desert thing. I hope it’s real though

 

[Relicgrubber]

Wow! I've held cave goods that were not preserved as well as your find.

Pretty cool find though!

 

[Tpmetal]

Something isn't right unless this was recently broken out of a clay pot or something that was protecting it. There is no way that thing should look like that out of a field in NC. the cordage wouldn't look like that after 2 years in wet soil let alone over a hundred. very odd

 

[dognose]

I think its a 1970s to 1990s some sort of macrame beading item.
I agree that for a perishable item like that to be found in your area, it can't be extremely old.

 

[traveller777]

Tpmetal and dog nose nailed it. A modern item. That type item had become popular from late 60s on. I think your find likely at least 90s. In NC, like East Tennessee, the moisture and soil would destroy cordage in short order. Sorry not old. Thanks for posting.

 

[diggerdeeper]

I agree with the others, this material is modern. Only way fabric of any kind has a chance of surviving in damp eastern soil is if it's in close proximity to copper. Copper is a natural antimicrobial so bacteria etc. can't survive near it.
A perfect example is the Etowah mounds museum near Cartersville GA. They have textiles that were included as grave offerings to high ranking priests etc. that were preserved because of their close association with sheet copper decorative artifacts also being in the grave. Later examples of metal preservation would be when civil war relics such as copper rivets from horse tack or ammo pouches and belts still have the bits of leather attached by virtue of the copper preventing decomposition of the surrounding organic material.

 

[Gene Mean]

Hey y’all. Came across this interesting piece in a plowed field in Iredell Co, NC today. Can anyone offer any opinions as to how old this may be? Is it modern? Thanks in advance!

I am going to wait and hope you get this authenticated rather than think it's modern. I found an 1800's button with the like-new thread attached. If your find was part of a much larger piece, maybe it was balled up for a century before you dug it. Good luck!

 

[Tnmountains]

I wish it was authentic but there is no way it would have survived in a plowed field. I sure wish it was though. Still a cool find.