Microscopic Analysis of Iron Mineralised Wool from Iron Age in Northern Balkans

The objective of this paper is to conduct a thorough examination and comparison of samples of iron-mineralized wool collected from various archaeological sites across the Northern Balkans. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was the primary research method. Wool samples were photographed in a low vacuum environment, and subsequently analyze with specialized software. The analysis of the acquired data not only focuses on the physical properties of the wool fibres but also on potential correlations and similarities in wool quality across the selected archaeological sites. These findings suggest a strong likelihood of a shared processing technique among the inhabitants of these regions. Furthermore, the consistency in wool quality may indicate a comparable level of cultural and social development within the Northern Balkans during the Early Iron Age.