Unburned loom weights from Vităneşti ‘Măgurice’ tell settlement (Teleorman County, southern Romania)
Unburned loom weights from Vităneşti ‘Măgurice’ tell settlement (Teleorman County, southern Romania)

Summary/Abstract: The clay weights of the Gumelniţa culture provide indirect information about the fabrics, the type and the characteristics of the yarns. At Vităneşti 'Măgurice' tell settlement burnt or unburned clay weights used for warp-weighted looms were found. Some unburned clay weights identified within dwelling remains prove the in situ existence of warp-weighted looms. The first assemblage, discovered in 2000, consisted of 10 unburnt weights disposed in two parallel rows. In their proximity, on a stratigraphic test section, another seven whole or broken weights were discovered. There is no evidence if all of them belonged to a single warp-weighted loom. The second assemblage, discovered in 2007 in the upper Gumelniţa A2 level, consisted of nine unburned weights disposed in a row, lying on one side, with the upper part in different directions. Two weights, from the ends of the string, were decorated by incisions with schematic female figures and the third had a side covered by horizontal or slightly oblique, superposed scratches. Following the experiments and the experience of the weavers, some observations can be made about the loom weights used for the warp-weighted loom and their functionality, starting with the weight and dimensions and the functional parameters that determine the possible types of fabric. Their width is equally important because it influences the space between the warp yarns. At Vitanesti, the weights discovered in 2007, which have close weight ranging from 385 to 457.7 g, could have been used for thin woven fabrics. Those of 1999-2000 with a greater weight, between 600-1000 g, were used for manufacturing thick-woven fabrics with 5-6 threads/cm². The experiments showed that a number of ≥ 10 warp threads and ≤ 30 yarns on one loom weight are the limits of what is considered to be practical. Referring to the 2007 weights, it is clear that a number of 15-20 yarns, with 0.46 mm thickness, for 20-26 g of tension, could be used, but also for 30 yarns with a thickness of 0.27 mm that would require 10 g of tension. For weights, with the weight between 500-900 g and the warp threads that require a tension of less than 50 g could be used 20-30 warp threads (normally requiring a tension between 16-45 g). The varied dimensions of the pieces from Vităneşti, especially the weight, indicate the use of different warp-weighted looms, some for weaving fine or normal fabrics as well as some with thick wires that require high tension and heavy weights similar of those found in 2000. The widths of the woven fabrics at Vităneşti seem to have fluctuated and depended both on the number of loom weights, on their width and on the distance apart they were arranged.

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