Ancient Doughnut-Shaped Pebbles Uncovered: 12,000-Year-Old Spindle Whorls Shed Light on Early Technology

A team of archaeologists in Israel has made a groundbreaking discovery at the Nahal Ein Gev II site in northern Israel, uncovering what appears to be a cluster of doughnut-shaped limestone pebbles, thousands of years old. The 12,000-year-old artefacts feature central holes and are believed to have been used as spindle whorls – tools for spinning fibres such as flax and wool.

According to Talia Yashuv, a graduate student and co-author of the study at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology, these ancient finds suggest that early humans were experimenting with rotational tools, which could be the precursor to later innovations like the potter's wheel and cart wheel. The discovery was published on November 13 in PLOS One and provides a unique insight into pre-agricultural technology in the region.

Conducted by Yashuv, alongside professor of prehistoric archaeology Leore Grosman of the same institute, the team used advanced scanning techniques to create detailed 3D models of each pebble. After ruling out possible uses as fishing weights or beads due to their size and shape, the researchers recreated traditional spindle whorls from the scanned models, demonstrating that the ancient pebbles were likely effective tools for spinning flax and wool.

Experts hail this discovery as a significant finding, with potential implications for our understanding of early technological advancements. Alex Joffe, director at the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, suggests that these spindle whorls could have enabled innovations like bags or fishing lines, while Yorke Rowan, an archaeology professor at the University of Chicago, calls it a "critical turning point" in early technology.

However, not all experts are convinced. Carole Cheval, an expert in prehistoric textiles at CEPAM in France, notes that similar objects have been found in other regions, possibly from earlier periods. This raises questions about the origins and significance of these ancient pebbles.