Costume Elements for Archaeological Reconstructions

Facial reconstructions of individuals from the past allows us the opportunity to come face to face with our ancestors. Sally has been privileged to make accessories for modern reconstructions that help tell the stories of the people represented whilst stimulating discussion about materials, techniques and styling in prehistory, supporting the work of the facial reconstruction artist.

She made the garment worn by Stonehenge Man (A simple leather shirt styled to reflect both simple likely cutting methods and the ability of our prehistoric counterparts to sew fine, competent garments) and also a hat for Ditchling Road Man (on display at the Elaine Evans Archaeology Gallery in Brighton & Hove Museums. This individual had ill health during his life, and the brief for this project asked for a warm hat that reflected shapes known during the Bronze Age but which is not a specific copy of a find from another region. A conjectural felt hat was made to reflect the rapid increase in wool as a textile material during this period.) Both reconstructions were made by Oscar D Nilsson