Tanning

Tanning leather and hides in Tanneries was an important part of the economy in the Ancient World.
They were located outside of towns or in poor suburbs of cities because of the powerful smells that they produced. A Tannery has been identified and excavated in Pompeii.

Preparation

Skinning
- Removal of the animal hide from the carcass.
Curing
- After skinning, the Hide was either immersed in a salt bath to kill off any remaining bacteria, or dry packed in salt blocks for four weeks to remove excess moisture.
Soaking
- The skin would be immersed in Urine which helped remove the animal hair. There was even a Urine Tax imposed by Vespasian on this industry.
Liming
- Liming releases the hair, grease, fats and other matter and prepares the collagen
Unhairing
- Unhairing the loosened material was then done by a metal hand scraper.
Deliming
- Deliming reduces the acidity of the collagen by soaking in enzymes or dung-water to produce a bacterial fermentation. This softens the hide.
Pickling
- The acidity of the collagen is then reduced by being treated with salt.

Vegetable Tanning
- Produces a leather which is not water resistant, and is liable to rot if allowed to become moist. It could be waterproofed by oiling.
Tawing or Alum Tanning
- Produces a type of leather that is water resistant, and could be used in army clothing.
- The leather is soaked in a solution of potash alum and salts.
Rawhide
- This was untanned leather with all the hair and flesh removed, then dried out and ‘worked’ into the required shape. It could be waterproofed by oiling.

Leather was sometimes used as an alternative to currency.
Sandals and Shoes: The Soles of shoes were made from the thickest and toughest leather.
Clothing
Belts
Gloves
Waterskins
Handbags
Boats
Writing Material, such as Vellum or Parchment
Strabo wrote that the Phoenicians made leather into water pipes.