Editing Lucet (section)

==Origins of the lucet==

The supposed Medieval lucets appear to be double-pronged hollow bones, left tubular, presumably so that the cord could be drawn through the centre hole.<ref name="MacGregor" /> In contrast, a modern lucet fork is lyre-shaped, normally made of wood, with two prongs at one end and (optionally) a handle on the other. It may also have a hole through which the cord can be pulled.

The exact origins of the lucet are controversial. While it was previously suggested that its use declined after the 12th century<ref name="MacGregor" />  and revived in the 17th century<ref>Oxford English Dictionary. See: ''Lucet obs.''</ref> Its use waned again in the early 19th century,<ref name="Groves" /> the historical identification of lucets in archaeological digs is tricky. The biggest challenge in identifying ancient lucets is that their design is simple, making it difficult to distinguish from other two-pronged tools. Many presumed lucets were made from bones, branches, or antlers, and are often misidentified by archaeologists.<ref name="RossiPhelps">{{cite journal |last1=Rossi |first1=Sara |last2=Phelps |first2=Daniel |title=The Lucet Compendium: A Historical Exploration and Practical Guide |journal=The Compleat Anachronist |issue=202 |date=2023 |publisher=Society for Creative Anachronism |location=Milpitas, CA}}</ref>

For example, a two-pronged 11th-century finding from Lund (Sweden)<ref name="Olesen">{{cite journal |last=Steenholt Olesen |first=Rikke |title=Et tinbl:Bein fra Middelalderens Lund: Et tekstilredskab – men hvilket? |journal=Danske Studier |date=September 2021 |pages=5–24 |doi=10.7146/danskestudier.vi.128793|doi-access=free }}</ref> has been associated with lucetting due to its design and runic inscription This artifact, despite having features that suggest its use in cordmaking, is debated among experts. In York, both bone and antler finds have been catalogued as lucets,<ref name="WaltonRogers">{{cite book |last=Walton Rogers |first=Penelope |title=Textile Production at 16–22 Coppergate |year=1997 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |page=1790}}</ref> although some, particularly the antler finds, are considered too impractical for weaving due to their divergent prongs and wear marks consistent with pendants.
<ref name="Nutz2024">{{cite book |last=Nutz |first=Beatrix |title=UFOs stricken – das Phantom der spätantiken/mittelalterlichen "Strickgabeln" |year=2024 |editor-last=Rieser |editor-first=Anna |series=NEARCHOS |volume=25 |publisher=Verlag Marie Leidorf |location=Darmstadt |pages=245–262}}</ref>

The absence of a universally recognized shape for a lucet further complicates this identification. Findings range from hollow bones with two prongs, sometimes bearing a third larger prong, to small flat tools. Artifacts associated with medieval textile crafts, such as those found in Sigtuna (Sweden),<ref name="Haltiner1990">{{cite book |last=Haltiner |first=S. |title=Textilhantverk II – nålar och tinbl bein |year=1990 |editor-last=Tesch |editor-first=S. |volume=Makt och människor i kungens Sigtuna. Sigtunautgrävningen 1988-90 |location=Sigtuna |publisher=Sigtuna Museer}}</ref> Wandignies-Hamage (France),<ref name="Étienne2015">{{cite journal |last=Étienne |first=Louis |title=Les indices d'artisanat dans et autour du monastère de Hamage (Nord) |journal=Bulletin du centre d'études médiévales d'Auxerre |volume=Hors-série n° 8 |year=2015}}</ref> and other Northern European sites,<ref name="Nutz2022">{{cite book |last=Nutz |first=Beatrix |title=Cords, Braids and Bands in Archaeology – Finds from Tyrol |volume=Strands |year=2022 |pages=3–9}}</ref> have been re-examined through experimental archaeology, supporting their potential use as lucets, although doubts persist. Despite this, the term 'lucet' has been applied to similar objects, especially those found in textile-related contexts.