Archaeologists in Spain have published new research on a remarkably preserved 3,450-year-old wooden loom, discovered in 2008 at the Cabezo Redondo site. The loom survived because a fire destroyed the surrounding Bronze Age village and a roof collapsed on it, charring and protecting the wood from decay. This rare find includes over 200 lightweight loom weights, suggesting the community was engaged in intensive production of delicate wool textiles.
The discovery is significant because wooden looms almost never survive archaeologically, leaving only clay loom weights as evidence. This complete assemblage allows researchers to reconstruct Bronze Age textile production techniques with unprecedented accuracy. The lightweight nature of the loom weights indicates a specialization in fine wool weaving around 1000 BCE, shedding new light on the technological sophistication and economic activities of Iberian societies during this period.