Linen from the burial of Sebekhetepi
From the tomb of Sebekhetepi, Beni Hasan, Egypt
Middle Kingdom, about 2125-1795 BC
This large fringed sheet of linen was probably originally part
of the household linen of Sebekhetepi's family. Linen items were
sometimes included in burials, for use in the Afterlife. The fact
that these are often threadbare and darned suggests that they had
been heavily used before being placed in the tomb.
Few examples of textiles have been found in a domestic setting;
most come from burials, either for use in the Afterlife, or torn up
and used as wrappings on the mummy. Fragments of cloth can provide
a great deal of information. Some bandages have been torn from
loincloths, tunics and other items of clothing. One individual was
even wrapped in a torn-up sail.
The fabric is woven of relatively coarse threads, which would
not have been suitable for most items of clothing or ritual cloth.
The cloth used in temples and for the garments of the king were of
the finest weave.
The fringe is sewn on to the fabric, rather than being the loose
warp threads, which are hemmed.