Raw Materials

Tanning begins with fresh animal hides from cattle, goats, sheep, and other animals. The quality of raw hides was crucial.

Techniques

Early tanning involved soaking hides in water, scraping off hair and flesh, and treating them with natural tannins—plant-derived chemicals from oak bark, sumac leaves, or tree roots.

Smoking hides was also common to preserve and waterproof leather.

Workshop Organization

Ancient tanneries were often located outside city walls because of the foul odors and waste products produced during tanning.

They used large pits or vats for soaking hides and designated areas for drying.

 Tanneries in the Medieval Period

Expansion and Regulation

During the medieval era, tanning became a specialized trade and was often organized into guilds, especially in European towns and cities.

Tanneries were vital for producing leather for shoes, belts, gloves, saddles, and armor.

Techniques and Tools

Medieval tanning relied heavily on vegetable tanning with tannin-rich materials like oak bark.

Hides were soaked in large pits for weeks or months, then stretched, beaten, and dried.

The work was labor-intensive and odorous, often confined to the outskirts of towns.

Social and Environmental Impact

Tanning was considered a dirty and low-status occupation because of the smell and handling of animal carcasses.

Tanneries polluted nearby water sources with chemicals and organic waste.

Municipal authorities regulated their location and waste disposal. shutdown123