Hi y'all,
I was wondering what Viking era and Medieval string would look like? I mean how would it differ from modern string?
What color would it be? How thick?
I cant find any info about it online, just keep coming up with string instruments.
Thnx
Z

I would expect something like this - Description says its 160m of 3mm thick string made from 100% flax.:
[ Linked Image ]

If by "string" you mean thread or yarn, which is simply just a series of fibers (wool, linen, silk) twisted into a long length, then I imagine there would be little significant difference to what we have available today. Thread weights (i.e. the thickness) could vary from heavy to very fine, and colors could be produced using a variety of naturally occurring dyestuffs and mordants. Your only real difference would be the lack of modern materials, such as polyester, nylon, etc., as Jean pointed out. :)

Here is a rather brief overview of Anglo-Saxon/Viking textiles: http://www.regia.org/textiles.htm
Here is a very in-depth look at dyestuffs available to someone in northern Europe around the 9th-11th centuries: http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/vikdyes.html

It may help if you mention what the application for said string would be; whether you intend to use it for sewing, for embroidery/ornamentation, plaiting for arming laces, etc. At least that would focus what exactly it is you're looking for, and help the rest of us help you find the answers. :)

Its a good question, I imagine that a number of fibre producing products could be used,, flax (linen0 hemp, nettle.

Woolen yarns tend to be two ply, not three ply which modern wool tends to be.

Viking Age rope is believed to utilised marine mammal hide.

best
Dave

I would expect things similar to what was pictured above in linen, hemp (Jute today), and flax. Thread of flax and linen in varying sizes existed since ancient Egyptian times. http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/flax.htm