Archaeologists unearth first evidence of medieval woad plant in Belgium
In the Middle Ages, specific dye plants were used to colour textiles: weld for yellow, madder for red, and woad for blue. Archaeological evidence of the latter has now been discovered in Belgium, following the discoveries of the first two.
Cloth production was a significant industry in this region during the Middle Ages. Guilds employed specialised techniques to extract dyes from plant leaves and roots. Dyers often established their workshops along rivers, utilising the abundant water supply. These rivers apparently served as a convenient dumping ground for production waste.
Recent archaeological excavations conducted by agencies in Brussels and Mechelen have unearthed numerous organic samples from river deposits dating from the 10th to the 15th centuries. Specifically, the finds included weld seeds, rose madder fragments, and, for the first time in Belgium, woad fruits. In Brussels, it is located on the site of Parking 58 – named for its intended use as additional parking for visitors to the 1958 World's Fair. The site occupies the building block bounded by Rue des Halles, Rue de l'Evêque, Rue De La Vierge Noire, and Rue du Marché aux Poulets, situated near the historic port along the Zenne River. BruCity, the new administrative centre of Brussels, now stands in its place. In Mechelen, it is located on Zakstraat, alongside the Melaan, an old canal near the Grote Markt.
An extraordinary discovery for experts, as reported in the scientific journal Vegetation History and Archaeobotany.