Spindle Whorls, Gender, and Ethnicity at Late Chalcolithic Hacinebi Tepe

New Frames of Archaeometrical Description of Spindle Whorls: A Case Study of the Late Eneolithic Spindle Whorls From the 1c Site in Gródek, District of Hrubieszów, Poland

“…Accordingly, when one is to increase the angular mass of a particular spindle (i.e., to slow down its rotation speed), it is purposeful to manipulate its diameter. It is then this value that will be characterized by a higher variability (cf., Loughran‐Delahunt 1996, 56; Keith 1998, 503; Kimbrough 2006, 65). When a high increase of the mass moment of inertia is undesirable but it is necessary to enlarge the mass of the spindle itself (to gain a better tension on the yarn while spinning), the height of the spindle whorl will increase rapidly, whereas the diameter variability will be reduced.…”

“…2003, 111, graph on p. 119 [note that in this article, the captions to figures 111 and 112 are reversed]; Schade‐Lindig and Schmitt 2003, 6, 11–12, fig. 7; Chmielewski 2006, 107–11; Kimbrough 2006, 65–6), even though some authors have already suggested that for functional analyses of spindle whorls these critical attributes should be considered not only singly, but also in combination, as the rotational moment of inertia (i.e., Keith 1998, 503; Loughran‐Delahunt 1996, 57–61; Kimbrough 2006, 66–7). As can be inferred from the above, a specification resting on basic parameters (the weight, diameter and height) makes possible only comparisons of similarly shaped spindle whorls, practically excluding any broad (intercultural and diachronic) comparative research.…”

Neolithic Textile Production Artifacts at Bronocice

“…Their weights ranged from 14 grams to 104 grams, with most weights falling between 31 grams and 40 grams ( Figure 17). Based on previous studies, it is evident that some of the variation in size and form was functional and dependent on the type of fiber spun, such as flax or wool (Chmielewski 2009b;Keith 1998; Overall, most spindle whorls were plain and undecorated. Of the 174 specimens examined, only 31 exhibited some form of decoration.…”

“…These artifacts are embedded with social and economic meaning. Others have discussed the association of these types of artifacts with women, their use as markers of cultural diversity, the status of women as textile producers and the value of textiles and the prestige of clothing (Barber 1991;Brumfiel 1991;Keith 1998;McCafferty and McCafferty 1991;Randsborg 2011;Schneider 1987).…”

The earliest Near Eastern wooden spinning implements

“…Spinning involves drafting fibres out of a bundle by drawing or stretching and twisting them into yarn, which can be done in various ways (e.g. Keith 1998). The earliest-documented human attempts with twisted fibres date to c. 30 kya (Dolní Vȇstonice, Czech Republic: Adovasio et al 1996; Dzudzuana Cave, Georgia: Kvavadze et al 2009; but see Bergfjord et al 2010).…”