Wool Science
Below is a collection of peer reviewed scientific articles or books that are open access and free to read. They are here just for interest, because wool is so much more than simply something to wear. It is a world of learning.
Peer reviewed academic articles
Click to read
Approching sheep herds origins and the emergence of the wool economy
in continental Europe during the Bronze Age
Sabatini, S., Bergerbrant, S., Brandt, L. Ø., Margaryan, A., Allentoft, M. E. (2019). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 11:4909–4925
​Provenancing Archaeological Wool Textiles from Medieval Northern Europe
by Light Stable Isotope Analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ2 H)
Von Holstein, I. C. C., Rogers, P. W., Craig, O. E., Penkman, K. E. H., Newton, J., Collins, M. J. (2016). Plos One 11(10): e0162330
French sheep breeds and their wool
Aure et Campan
Avranchin
Barégeoise
Basco-Béarnaise
Belle Ile
Berrichon de l'Indre
Berrichon du Cher
Bizet (Auvergne)
Blanc du Massif Central
Bleu du Maine
Boulonnaise
Brigasque
Castillonnaise
Caussenarde des Garrigues
Causses du Lot
Charmoise
Charollais
Commune des Alpes
Corse
Cotentin
Est à Laine Mérinos
Grivette
Ile-de-France
Lacaune Lait (Lozère)
Lacaune Viande (Lozère)
Landaise
Landes de Bretagne
Limousine (Haut-Limousin)
Lourdaise
Manech Tête Noire
Manech Tête Rousse
Martinik
Montagne Noire
Mourerous
Mérinos d'Arles (Crau and Camargue)
Mérinos de Rambouillet
Mérinos Précoce
Noir du Velay
Ouessant
PréAlpes du Sud
Raiole
Rava (Auvergne)
Rouge de l'Ouest
Rouge du Roussillon
Roussin de La Hague
Sasi Ardi
Solognote
Southdown Français
Tarasconnaise (Pyrenees)
Thônes et Marthod
Vendéen
Recommended books
A fast-paced account of the year Clara Parkes spent transforming a 676-pound bale of fleece into saleable yarn, and the people and vanishing industry she discovered along the way.
This one-of-a-kind encyclopedia shines a spotlight on more than 200 animals and their wondrous fleece. Profiling a worldwide array of fiber-producers that includes northern Africa’s dromedary camel, the Navajo churro, and the Tasmanian merino, Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson include photographs of each animal’s fleece at every stage of the handcrafting process, from raw to cleaned, spun, and woven.
This highly readable, authoritative reference provides a comprehensive look at the characteristics of wool of 100 breeds of sheep. Essential reading for handspinners, wool growers, and other fiber craft enthusiasts, this guide gives special attention to fleece characteristics, methods of preparation and spinning, and best end use.