This use case focuses on exceptionally well-preserved funerary garments from 17th–18th century burials in Turku Cathedral. The collection includes full outfits and accessories such as silk caps, stockings, gloves, and coffin furnishings.  Due to minimal soil contact before excavation, the textiles are in remarkably excellent condition. However, their documentation presents significant challenges: many items are full-sized, fragile, and richly detailed, incorporating silver-coated yarns, silk lace, and reflective or dark materials that are difficult to image and study with conventional tools. Accessing hidden or internal features is nearly impossible without damaging artefacts. TEXTaiLes applies 3D scanning, RTI, and computed tomography to capture both surface and internal details non-invasively. AI tools further support the identification of weaving patterns, offering new insights into early modern textile craftsmanship. 

Collection: Turku Cathedral Museum [TCM] 

The funerary attire in the collection from Turku Cathedral [third-party TCM] was excavated in 1925. The attire belonged to members of the elite and bourgeois who lived in Turku (Finland) during the 17th and 18th centuries. Before their excavation, most of the burials had never been in soil contact, and the preservation of the textiles is exceptional. The collection includes full dresses and shirts from women’s, men’s, and children’s burials, as well as accessories such as silk caps, stockings, and gloves. In addition, there are floral wreaths, scarves, laces, and pillows, and many other pieces of fabric used to furnish the coffin. 

Responsible partner: The University of Oulu