"Ungghhh! Will I never escape the curse of typecast TV!?"
Posted on 02/01/2004 12:08:13 PM PST by blam
Austria claims to have invented tartan kilts
Tartan kilts have become fashionable in Austria after archaeologists claimed the country invented them.
Many Austrian stores are now selling "traditional Austrian" kilts and sporrans as well as lederhosen.
The Austrian claim is based on the discovery of what they claim is the oldest piece of tartan in the world.
The host of the Austrian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire is the latest convert to the trend. Armin Assinger turned up at the studio wearing one of the Carinthian kilts.
Thomas Rettl, whose clothing company is based close to where scraps from the original Celtic kilt were found, said: "Ever since we found out that Austria was the true home to tartan we have been doing a roaring trade.
"It was found not in Scotland but in a place called Molzbichl in Carinthia in Austria. The Celts who conquered
Scotland originally came from Europe, which would back our claim to have had the kilt first.
"The tartan sample found in Austria was dated to at least 320 years BC - over 1,600 years earlier than the oldest Scottish tartan which was made in 1,300 AD."
Mr Rettl said armed with the knowledge that the kilt was actually Austria's traditional costume, he and his fellow Austrian tailors had decided to make a kilt and since then many others had copied the trend.
"We worked with a Scottish firm in the Borders to get the necessary expertise but the kilt is an Austrian design and we use the best materials from around the world - our kilts are better quality than many in Scotland.
"The success of the Carinthian kilt in particular has surprised even me. I am hoping to sell more in Scotland as well and in recognition of our shared Celtic past with the Scots I am making a deer leather kilt - a mixture of a tartan cloth and a pair of lederhosen."
The Scottish Tartans Authority says it's not in the least bit surprising that traces of tartan were found in Austria.
Brian Wilton said the oldest tartan authenticated was found in China 500 years before the time of Tutankhanum.
Story filed: 10:50 Tuesday 27th January 2004
Nah, the teeth definitely show him to be English.
Close but no cigar. The Kelys / Celts were all over Europe and probably the world. However, the Highland Scots as I understand it, are descended from the Irish Celts who invaded Scotland in the "800s", thus it is an Irish Kilt, just different clan tartans. Willing to be corrected based on facts with reference.
The success of the Carinthian kilt in particular has surprised even me. I am hoping to sell more in Scotland as well and in recognition of our shared Celtic past with the Scots I am making a deer leather kilt - a mixture of a tartan cloth and a pair of lederhosen."
Made out of:
(wait for it)
"Rich Carinthian leather."
Bump/ping.
"the oldest tartan authenticated was found in China 500 years before the time of Tutankhanum"
Gee, I'm surprised the record survives. [rimshot!]
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Interesting.
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