This fifth volume in a series of publications dealing with the excavations by Groningen University in 19912004 on the Timpone della Motta, Francavilla Marittima, Calabria (Italy), under the direction of the author, is preceded by four BAR volumes on the Oenotrian production of Matt-painted pottery. That pottery, together with impasto pottery fragments, loom weights and spindle whorls, was associated with an indigenous Oenotrian apsidal building, which, judging from the presence of animal bones (a relatively high percentage of which were fetal and neonatal bones of pigs, sheep and goats), an altar and ash, was not only a residence of female spinners and weavers, but also fulfilled a sacred function. The present volume largely consists of a catalogue of 300 spindle whorls of various types. Their weights and types are compared with spindle whorls from other Calabrian find spots (mainly graves) and conclusions as to the development in indigenous Oenotrian spinning practices are suggested.

AUTHOR
Marianne Kleibrink studied Archaeology and Art History at Leiden University in the 1960s. Her doctoral thesis, judged a cum laude, was on the ancient-gem collection of The Hagues Coin Cabinet. She was conservator of ancient coins and assistant lecturer at Leiden University, and in 1976 was nominated the Chair of Classical Archaeology at Groningen University. She directed excavations at Satricum (Lazio) from 1979 to 1991, and from 1991 to 2004 at Francavilla Marittima (Calabria). Her publications comprise books and articles associated with the mentioned excavations and on engraved gems, ancient sculpture and the iconography of ancient myth.