ASSIROS: IRON AGE SMALL FINDS

CLAY

 

An intriguing cache of objects was found in the earliest Iron Age level (Phase 4) which may well represent the favourite playthings of a small child. The clay items included a figurine of a quadruped (sheep or cow ?), a snake's head and spindle whorls (right) while other objects included animal bones and quartz pebbles. More details

Spindle whorls are among the commonest finds at Assiros (as on many Aegean settlement sites). The great majority are more or less biconical and undecorated but other shapes are represented and incised decoration occurs occasionally. While most were probably used for spinning (wool, flax or other fibres) some may also have served as weights, beads or buttons.

Sherd disks are another common find on prehistoric sites in the Aegean, some had been trimmed but not pierced (top left) but most are drilled with holes of different sizes. These may have served the same function as  the purpose made spindle-whorls. Made disks with two holes, on on either side (top right) are much rarer and probably served as lids for small pottery vessels.

Loomweights were a regular find, sometimes in groups, sometimes even as part of a loom which had been standing at the time of the destruction as in Phase 2 Room 10. Usually made from gritty clay they could be round or roughly square in cross-section and pierced through the narrow end.

Clay spools are one of the few Iron Age innovations at Assiros, as at neighbouring Kastanas. They may perhaps have some connection with weaving and are sometimes found in groups. In the Southern Aegean, as at Lefkandi for example, they first characterise LH IIIC levels but disappear again by the end of the Bronze Age.

   

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