A Spools Enigma? The Iron Age case at Arslantepe (Malatya, South-Eastern Turkey)

A comprehensive analysis of clay spools from the Iron Age levels at Arslantepe Mound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate in southeastern Turkey, reveals a significant shift in textile production techniques. The study, which systematically examined hundreds of these objects, demonstrates a marked decline in other types of loom weights concurrent with an increase in weaving activities, suggesting a transformation in textile manufacturing practices during this period. This finding sheds new light on the widespread distribution and functional significance of spools across the Mediterranean region. The research employs a combined typological, diachronic, and techno-functional approach to explore these changes and their chronological distribution.

Laurito, R., & Manuelli, F. (2022). A Spools Enigma? The Iron Age case at Arslantepe (Malatya, South-Eastern Turkey). Freie Universität Berlin. https://doi.org/10.17169/REFUBIUM-34866