Excavations at Francavilla Marittima 1991-2004

This is the sixth volume in a series of publications dealing with the excavations by Groningen University in 1991-2004 on the Timpone della Motta, Francavilla Marittima, Calabria (Italy), under the direction of the author. It is preceded by four BAR volumes on the Oenotrian production of Matt-painted pottery and one on spindle whorls. The locally produced material, together with impasto pottery, loom weights, cooking stove fragments, etc. was associated with an indigenous, Oenotrian apsidal building dating from the 8th century BC. Judging from the presence of an altar and a huge ash layer - alongside the many bone fragments of adult and sub-adult domestic animals, as well as those of foetal and neonatal specimens - this was not only the residence of female spinners and weavers, but also fulfilled a sacred function. The present volume largely consists of a catalogue of loom weights of various types, among them nicely decorated ones, and a description of their find circumstances. The book also contains a description of the loom weights and spindle whorls and their provenances from the excavations of Zancani Montuoro/Stoop 1963-'69 and a chapter on the extraordinary solar iconography of the large 8th-c. BC loom weights from Francavilla Marittima.