Zooarchaeological analysis of decorated bone spindle whorls: insights from the protohistoric site of Frattesina di Fratta Polesine (Veneto, northern Italy)

Textile tools made of hard organic materials represent key indicators of protohistoric spinning and weaving activities. Among these, decorated bone spindle whorls provide valuable insights into the selection and use of animal skeletal materials in textile production. This paper presents a zooarchaeological study of a group of spindle whorls, recovered from the site of Frattesina di Fratta Polesine (Veneto, northern Italy), dated between the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age. These artefacts come from the settlement area – where they were found through both excavation and survey activities – as well as from burials in one of the two cemeteries associated with the site. Through the identification of raw materials and the analysis of taphonomic traces, this research aims to reconstruct the selection criteria for skeletal elements and explore postdepositional processes affecting these artefacts. The study integrates traditional zooarchaeological methodologies with detailed microscopic observation to refine our understanding of material choices. By focusing on the faunal component of textile-related artefacts, this research contributes to a broader discussion on the selection and use of hard animal materials in protohistoric craftsmanship and their role within textile production processes.