{"id":93484,"date":"2026-03-06T06:45:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T11:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=93484"},"modified":"2026-03-05T16:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:36:36","slug":"blue-threads-of-bronze-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-near-eastern-world\/blue-threads-of-bronze-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Threads of the Bronze Age"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_93488\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-93488\" class=\"wp-image-93488 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200.jpg.avif\" alt=\"microscope view of blue fabric\" width=\"400\" height=\"223\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200.jpg.avif 833w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200-300x167.jpg.avif 300w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200-768x428.jpg.avif 768w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/223;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200.jpg 833w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-1_blue-Anatolian-fabric_200-768x428.jpg 768w&quot;}\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-93488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Microscope image of blue fabric (Tx1) found at Bronze Age Beycesultan in western Turkey. <em>Courtesy \u00c7i\u011fdem Maner, E\u015fref Abay, Recep Karada\u011f, Emine Torgan G\u00fczel, \u201cUntwisting Beycesultan H\u00f6y\u00fck: The Earliest Evidence for N\u00e5lbinding and Indigo-dyed Textiles in Anatolia\u201d<\/em> Antiquity <em>99 (2024), CC BY 4.0.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Textiles play an important role in the world of the Bible. From the finely crafted garments described in the book of Exodus to the special robe given to Joseph in Genesis, clothing in biblical narratives often signals status and wealth. Yet actual textiles rarely survive in the archaeological record because they are made of organic fabrics that decay easily. Usually, scholars reconstruct ancient textile production indirectly through tools such as spindle whorls, loom weights, and textile impressions left on clay. A recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/antiquity\/article\/untwisting-beycesultan-hoyuk-the-earliest-evidence-for-nalbinding-and-indigodyed-textiles-in-anatolia\/4A00AC3051C50B89F5907F25F03A4B5C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> of two burnt textile fragments discovered at Beycesultan in western Anatolia (Turkey) offers a rare glimpse into textile production during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages (roughly 2000\u20131200 BCE)\u2014eras often associated with the patriarchal period of the Bible.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"downloadFormSec esolshortwrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-3 mb-4 mb-md-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<img data-src='https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2011\/03\/israel-ebook3.jpg.avif' class='esolsetnewimg smush-dimensions lazyload' width='200' style='--smush-image-width: 200px; --smush-image-aspect-ratio: 200\/259;' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' data-smush-avif-fallback='{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2011\\\/03\\\/israel-ebook3.jpg&quot;}'>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-9 col-sm-9\">\n\t\t\t\t  <form method=\"post\" class=\"esol_fsubmit\">\n\t\t\t\t  <input name=\"action\" value=\"esol_single_ebook_formsubmit\" type=\"hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t  <input name=\"esol_ebook_id\" value=\"43931\" type=\"hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t  <input class=\"esol_ebook_title\" value=\"Israel: An Archaeological Journey\" type=\"hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t  <input name=\"esol_ebook_whatcounts_code\" value=\"E00\" type=\"hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t   <div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\"><p>FREE ebook: <strong>Israel: An Archaeological Journey<\/strong>. Sift through the storied history of ancient Israel.\r\n<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-6 d-none\"> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"input-field\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input name=\"esol_fname\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"FIRST NAME\" id=\"esol_fname\" class=\"\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"esol_fname\" class=\"active\">First Name:<span class=\"clrRed\">*<\/span><\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-6 d-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <div class=\"input-field \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <input name=\"esol_lname\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"LAST NAME\" id=\"esol_lname\" class=\"\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <label for=\"esol_lname\" class=\"active\">Last Name:<span class=\"clrRed\">*<\/span><\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-field esolinputwrappadd\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <input name=\"esol_email_address\" type=\"email\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" id=\"esol_email_address\" class=\"\" required>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <label for=\"esol_email_address\" class=\"active\">Email Address: <span class=\"clrRed\">*<\/span><\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <span class=\"helper-text d-block\">* Indicates a required field. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"btn tempBtn waves-effect waves-light btn-block esolsetdes\" id=\"esol_submit_btn1\">SUBMIT<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"esol_filled_in\" class=\"filled-in esol_filled_in\" checked=\"checked\" value=\"yes\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"esol_ccheck\"> If you don\u2019t want to receive the <em>Bible History Daily<\/em> newsletter, uncheck this box.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"more ebook_form_error_message\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t  <\/form>\n\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beycesultan\" target=\"_blank\">Beycesultan<\/a> is a large settlement mound that was occupied for thousands of years. Excavations first conducted in the 1950s uncovered numerous occupation layers dating from the late Chalcolithic period through the end of the Bronze Age. Among the most notable discoveries was a large palace complex destroyed by fire. Renewed excavations beginning in 2007 have continued to reveal evidence that the settlement was an important regional center during the Bronze Age. The textile fragments discovered there were found adhered to the ground within the burned remains. The charring stabilized the fabric and prevented it from decomposing entirely.<\/p>\n<p>The two textile fragments analyzed in the study were discovered in different contexts within the settlement. The first fragment (Tx1) was found in a Middle Bronze Age structure dating to approximately 1915 to 1745 BCE. Nearby, archaeologists discovered pottery vessels, storage jars, and a stone weight, as well as four systematically spaced postholes likely used for a loom frame. The second fragment (Tx2) was uncovered in a later domestic structure dating to roughly 1700 to 1595 BCE. This room contained numerous textile tools including spindle whorls, loom weights, a weaving comb, bronze needles, and beads. The concentration of tools strongly suggests that this space was regularly used for textile production.<\/p>\n<p>To understand how the fabrics were made, researchers used several scientific techniques. Optical microscopy allowed them to study the structure of the threads, while scanning electron microscopy helped identify the fibers themselves. The team also used high-performance liquid chromatography to detect any dyes that may have been applied to the cloth.<\/p>\n<p>The first fragment (Tx1) produced the most surprising results in terms of weave, material, and color. Microscopic analysis showed that the fabric lacked the typical structure found in woven cloth. The threads formed loops created by passing a single needle through earlier stitches, indicating that the textile was made using the technique known as N\u00e5lbinding or \u201csingle-needle\u201d knitting. This looping method predates modern knitting and creates a dense, durable fabric. If this interpretation is correct, the fragment may represent the earliest physical example of this technique discovered in Anatolia and possibly the broader Near East. Further analysis revealed that the yarn was made from hemp fibers, a material rarely identified in Bronze Age textiles from this area. Chemical testing revealed another remarkable feature: the cloth had been dyed blue. Researchers detected indigotin, a compound likely derived from the plant Isatis tinctoria (woad), making this the earliest known example of blue-dyed fabric from a Bronze Age context in Anatolia.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_93486\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-93486\" class=\"wp-image-93486 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-683x1024.jpg.avif\" alt=\"Miscropscope view of knitted frabric\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-683x1024.jpg.avif 683w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-200x300.jpg.avif 200w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2026\/03\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave.jpg.avif 765w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 400\/600;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-683x1024.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Image-2_blue-anatolian-fabric_weave.jpg 765w&quot;}\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-93486\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Microscope image of Tx1 (cropped), evincing the N\u00e5lbinding or \u201csingle-needle\u201d looping technique. <em>Courtesy \u00c7i\u011fdem Maner, E\u015fref Abay, Recep Karada\u011f, Emine Torgan G\u00fczel, \u201cUntwisting Beycesultan H\u00f6y\u00fck: The Earliest Evidence for N\u00e5lbinding and Indigo-dyed Textiles in Anatolia\u201d<\/em> Antiquity<em><em><em>99 (2024), CC BY 4.0.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Finds from the second fragment (Tx2) were simpler but still informative. Microscopic analysis showed that it featured the most basic weaving pattern, tabby weave. The fibers were likely plant-based, though heavy burning made precise identification difficult. Chemical analysis detected no dye, suggesting that the cloth was probably intended to show its natural color.<\/p>\n<p>Together, these finds reveal that the inhabitants of Beycesultan produced a range of fabrics using different techniques, fibers, and levels of craftsmanship. Such discoveries help scholars reconstruct the economic and technological landscape of the ancient Near East. For readers of the Bible, they provide valuable context for the many references to clothing, weaving, and dyed fabrics\u2014reminding us that behind the biblical texts stood a vibrant world of skilled artisans. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/news\/ancient-fabric-dyed-biblical-blue\/\">Blue textiles<\/a> are of particular significance: Israelite priests wore blue threads in their garments (Exodus 28:31\u201335), the broader Israelite community was instructed to use blue cords to attach tassels to the corners of their cloaks (Numbers 15:38\u201339), and the tabernacle curtains featured blue alongside purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1). The blue-dyed fabric from Beycesultan offers a tangible example of how such prized colors could be produced, helping us better imagine the luxurious, symbolically charged textiles that colored the biblical world.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"width: 33%;\" \/>\n<p><strong>Lauren K. McCormick <\/strong>is an assistant editor at <em>Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em> and a specialist in ancient Near Eastern religions, visual culture, and the Bible. She holds degrees in religion from Syracuse University, Duke University, New York University, and Rutgers University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship on religion and the public conversation at Princeton University.<\/p>\n<hr \/><h3 style=\"color: red; margin: 0px 0px 0px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 0px;\">Become a BAS All-Access Member\u00a0Now!<\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 22px; font-size: 14px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0 0 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px\">Read <i>Biblical Archaeology Review<\/i> online, explore 50 years of <b>BAR<\/b>, watch videos, attend talks, and more<\/p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/subscribe-new?utm_term=W26009B0\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-53973 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/57;border: none;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2019\/04\/button-all-access-pass.jpg.avif\" alt=\"access\" width=\"300\" height=\"57\" border=\"0\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2019\/04\/button-all-access-pass.jpg.avif 376w, https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/wp-content\/smush-avif\/2019\/04\/button-all-access-pass-300x57.jpg.avif 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-smush-avif-fallback=\"{&quot;data-src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/04\\\/button-all-access-pass.jpg&quot;,&quot;data-srcset&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/04\\\/button-all-access-pass.jpg 376w, https:\\\/\\\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/04\\\/button-all-access-pass-300x57.jpg 300w&quot;}\" \/><\/a><hr \/>\n<h4 style=\"margin-bottom: 1em;\">Related reading in<em> Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tTLe5NwCFT\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-artifacts\/artifacts-and-the-bible\/the-royal-purple-of-david-and-solomon\/\">The Royal Purple of David and Solomon<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The Royal Purple of David and Solomon&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-artifacts\/artifacts-and-the-bible\/the-royal-purple-of-david-and-solomon\/embed\/#?secret=WRc9tYPQAm#?secret=tTLe5NwCFT\" data-secret=\"tTLe5NwCFT\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"eLmTS4Ww0l\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/news\/ancient-fabric-dyed-biblical-blue\/\">Ancient Fabric Dyed Biblical Blue?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Ancient Fabric Dyed Biblical Blue?&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/news\/ancient-fabric-dyed-biblical-blue\/embed\/#?secret=udA8LZD6Ae#?secret=eLmTS4Ww0l\" data-secret=\"eLmTS4Ww0l\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"mKDcZN3yhm\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/what-color-was-tekhelet\/\">What Color Was Tekhelet?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;What Color Was Tekhelet?&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/what-color-was-tekhelet\/embed\/#?secret=SkTXQS0Fzz#?secret=mKDcZN3yhm\" data-secret=\"mKDcZN3yhm\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"9hDDd5NXrd\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/ancient-israels-tyrian-purple-factory\/\">Ancient Israel\u2019s Tyrian Purple Factory<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Ancient Israel\u2019s Tyrian Purple Factory&#8221; &#8212; Biblical Archaeology Society\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-israel\/ancient-israels-tyrian-purple-factory\/embed\/#?secret=U5d8E5ZYar#?secret=9hDDd5NXrd\" data-secret=\"9hDDd5NXrd\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"margin: 2em 0;\">All-Access members, read more in the <em>BAS Library<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"VPTUibTsys\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/the-search-for-biblical-blue\/\">The Search for Biblical Blue<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The Search for Biblical Blue&#8221; &#8212; The BAS Library\" src=\"https:\/\/library.biblicalarchaeology.org\/article\/the-search-for-biblical-blue\/embed\/#?secret=B8bjzc8CD6#?secret=VPTUibTsys\" data-secret=\"VPTUibTsys\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 2em 0;\"><p><strong>Not a <em>BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/subscribe-new\/?utm_term=W26009B0\">Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Textiles play an important role in the world of the Bible. From the finely crafted garments described in the book of Exodus to the special [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":93488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[366,376,378,386,398],"tags":[23674,23676,23675,21220,2771,23677,23678,23579,23673],"class_list":["post-93484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ancient-cultures","category-ancient-israel","category-artifacts-and-the-bible","category-daily-life-and-practice","category-ancient-near-eastern-world","tag-ancient-clothes","tag-beycesultan","tag-biblical-clothing","tag-blue-dye","tag-bronze-age","tag-josephs-robe","tag-nalbinding","tag-textiles","tag-weaving"],"acf":[],"nelio_content":{"autoShareEndMode":"never","automationSources":{"useCustomSentences":false,"customSentences":[]},"efiAlt":"","efiUrl":"","followers":[76],"highlights":[],"isAutoShareEnabled":true,"networkImageIds":[],"permalinkQueryArgs":[],"series":[],"suggestedReferences":[]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Blue Threads of the Bronze Age - Biblical Archaeology Society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Archaeological finds from Bronze Age Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) reveal sophisticated weaving and textile production, including dyed fabrics and single-needle knitting techniques, providing context for colored garments described in the Bible.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/ancient-cultures\/ancient-near-eastern-world\/blue-threads-of-bronze-age\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Blue Threads of the Bronze Age\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Textiles play an important role in the world of the Bible. 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