Evidence of a warp-weighted loom in the Bronze Age settlement of Cabezo Redondo (south-east Spain)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The deep history of weaving is attested by spindle whorls and loom weights, so the evolution of techniques may be tracked through changes in these durable artefacts; however, wooden looms rarely preserve. Here, the authors document a series of loom weights and associated charred timbers and fibres that represent the remains of a Bronze Age warp-weighted loom, uncovered at the settlement of Cabezo Redondo in south-eastern Spain. Based on the number, weight and size of the weights, hypothetical reconstructions of loom setup and resultant textile products are proposed, revealing possible diversification of weaving processes in the mid-second millennium BC.

Source: Antiquity

DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2026.10312

Authors: Ricardo E. Basso Rial, Gabriel García Atiénzar, Yolanda Carrión Marco, Paula Martín de la Sierra Pareja, Virginia Barciela González, Mauro S. Hernández Pérez

Institutions: Universidad de Granada, Universitat de València

Language: English

Topic: Archaeological and Geological Studies

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Universidad de Granada, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación

OpenAlex ID: W7136063124