Cork use in medival times did not to have included wine bottles.
Cork is the spongy bark of a slow-growing evergreen oak from areas of the Western Mediterranean. In modern times cork has become synonymous with its use to cork wine bottles and liquor. In ancient times, however, cork --- its botanical name is Quercus suber --- filled a variety of uses. In early medieval times, from 1066 to1166, cork was used for home construction, clothing and as a material supporting an industry. Its earlier uses for food preservation and wine had been largely forgotten.
Cork and the Fruit of the Vine
Cork had been used to seal bottles and containers of liquid since ancient times; both Greek and Roman literature note the use of cork stoppers to seal wine jugs, sometimes coated with pitch to seal the cork into the bottle. But apparently the use of cork as bottle stoppers did not translate to medieval times. Medieval paintings and writings indicate that by the year A.D. 1,000 bottles of spirits appear to have been sealed with stoppers made of leather or rags, occasionally sealed with wax, pitch or gypsum. Sometimes a layer of oil was poured atop the liquid, before the stoppers were placed, to maintain the purity of the contents.
Cork as a Building Material
Medieval builders discovered that cork is an excellent building insulator. Because the evergreen oak from which it derives grows slowly, requiring high sunlight, low rainfall and high humidity, it was not found in the forests of most northern countries and was highly prized. A single tree could be harvested several times, so cork bark became an early, valued, import-export in medieval times. Cork logs were prized for holding heating in during the winter, and keeping it out during the summer. Many European monasteries were constructed using whole, unsplit cork oak logs.
Cork as a Means of Livelihood
Early uses of cork included its use by fishing fleets. Because cork oak grows in the coastal regions of southwestern Europe and northwest Africa, it was readily available. Early mariners discovered that cork floats and began to attach it to fishing nets, anchor lines and ropes, making it easier to manage their nets. Cork has a rigid exterior when dry, but is pliable when wet. Ship builders discovered that wet cork could be forced between planks, then covered with sealing pitch to create waterproof boat hulls.
Cork as a Clothing Material
The Romans were the first to discover that cork made an excellent material for sandal construction. As an insole, it was both lightweight and fairly durable. Best of all, it cushioned the feet for walking on rough cobblestones. Because cork bark can be harvested multiple times from the same tree, it was a reliable source for shoe construction. The practice continued in medieval times.
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