Loomed herringbone sock

[richsc]

In the Sept/Oct 2005 magazine Archaeology, page 10, is an image of a Roman razor handle in the form of a leg, found in the River Tees in northern UK. The article says it shows a sandal and sock, saying how even in cold climates the Romans preferred sandals (although why the owned could not have had it sent from Rome I don't know), but interestingly, the sock is herringbone. Now, I don't think you can knit or niall or whatever into a herringbone pattern, can you? I would think that shows that socks were loomed and sewn together.
[url:j7cs2rkf]http://www.archaeology.org/curiss/newsbriefs/world.html#europe[/url]

[Robert Vermaat]

Why can't this be a color decoration in a knitted sock?

[aitor iriarte]

Or just conventional marks intended just to show that it is fabric... :roll:

Aitor

[richsc]

Matt Amt pointed out that it would be nothing to loom herringbone fabric and then sew it up as a tube (like a tube sock) with the ends sewn in. It definitely looks herringbone, so this is quite plausible.

It would be great to get other views of this, back, front and other side.

[Viventius]

Or could it be naalbinding? There are various stitches, some which look a bit herringbone:

http://www.stringpage.com/naal/naalstitch.html

[venicone]

other images and examples

http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas ... DE0D3018FC

http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas ... 9221B01F8F

http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas ... 4F98001CEF