Ancient Spindle Whorls Found in Israel Transform Textile History of the Levant

A groundbreaking discovery in northern Israel has revealed 12,000-year-old spindle whorls, pushing back the known history of textile production in the Levant by thousands of years. Researchers from Hebrew University announced Wednesday that these artifacts, associated with the ancient Natufian culture, represent a significant technological advancement as societies transitioned from nomadic hunting and gathering to agricultural and settled life.

Spindle whorls are small, weighted tools essential for spinning fibers into yarn or thread. Typically disk-shaped with a hole in the center, they are attached to a spindle stick, creating a simple tool that transforms raw fibers like wool or flax into usable thread for weaving. These artifacts, found at the Nahal-Ein Gev II site near the Sea of Galilee, show that textile production was already emerging as a craft 12,000 years ago—earlier than previously thought by 4,000 years.

The study, led by Talia Yashuv and Professor Leore Grosman from Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology, used advanced 3D modeling to analyze over 100 perforated limestone pebbles recovered at the site. Experimental replicas of these spindle whorls demonstrated their effectiveness, confirming their function in early textile production.

“These Natufian perforated stones are actually the first wheels in form and function,” explained Grosman. “They represent an early iteration of wheel-based technology, long before the wheel was invented for transport.” This discovery places the Natufians among the earliest technological innovators in human history, showcasing their capacity to devise tools that would pave the way for future breakthroughs like the potter’s wheel and eventually the transport wheel.

The Natufians, who inhabited the Levant approximately 11,500-15,000 years ago, were among the first to establish semi-permanent or permanent settlements, building stone and mud structures. Their homes, often circular or oval with stone foundations, mark some of the earliest examples of settled human life, a lifestyle that enabled new innovations in technology and craft.

“This study emphasizes the Natufians’ role as technological pioneers,” said Yashuv, underscoring how their innovations helped shape human progress. By mastering tools for textile production, they laid essential groundwork for societies to evolve in ways that would define the ancient and modern worlds alike.

The full findings of the study are available in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, offering new insights into the origins of textile technology and the early development of complex human societies.

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