Page 60 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

48 History and Science of Knots

Fig. 5. Mesh knot (#402) in S and Z direction
Two formulas are used to describe plait patterns found in Egypt: \1/1\\1
indicates the plait pattern `under 1, over 1, with a shift of 1'; \2/2\\1 stands
for `under 2, over 2, with a shift of 1' (see below, Fig. 28).
Amarna
In Amarna most string is made of tall grasses (Desmostachya bipinnata and
Imperata cylindrica). In large ropes complete plants, roots and all, are used.
The string and rope is made in one production phase: two bundles of grass
are spun by rolling them between the hands. After rolling, the bundles are
plied in the same movement by picking up the first bundle and laying it behind
the second. In the next rolling movement the second bundle is lifted and put
behind the first. The opposite orientation of spin and ply locks the string. This
method or ropemaking is still in use in Egypt today. Farmers and fishermen do
not buy their string, but make the required length of rope on the spot. With
artificial fibres becoming generally available in the Egyptian country side, the
art of rope making might well disappear in the next few decades.
In the ancient material there are clear indications that zS3 string (three
z-spun yarns plied in the S-direction) is first made as zS2 string, and that
the third yarn was spun and added in a second production phase. From tomb
paintings it is also known that for larger ropes, used in shipping, the fibres
were twisted with the help of weights (Teeter 1987: 72). Apart from grass,
the Amarna rope was also made from the leaves of the dom palm (Hyphaene
thebaica) and from the rind of papyrus stems (Cyperus papyrus), which is
strong and purple brown. The rind had to be removed before the white spongy
inner part of the culm could be cut into thin slices for making papyrus for
writing. Almost all grass string was zS2 string. Rope was not cabled, but was
made of thicker bundles of grass, made into zS2 or zS3 rope*. The palm leaf

*String is defined as having a diameter less than 10 mm. Rope has a diameter of 10 mm or
more.