Abstract
Investigating the transition of communities from simple to complex structures presents significant challenges. One approach to evaluate this transformation is to analyze indicators that reflect a shift toward complexity. Complexity can be assessed through various characteristics, including observable archaeological artifacts. Textiles represent a vital component of the cultural material associated with prehistoric societies. The production of textiles is closely linked to the advancement of animal husbandry and agriculture, as well as the emergence of specialized classes within these communities, which are indicative of their social complexities. Abundant archaeological evidence about textile production has been uncovered from southwestern sites in Iran, spanning three distinct periods of rural settlement. Most of these artifacts consist of loom weights, clay spools, spindle-whorls, and bone needles, alongside numerous remnants of mats and fabrics, which are the focus of this study. Analyzing the textile-related data reveals adherence to specific mechanical principles and production patterns, highlighting advancements, gradual evolution, and a degree of specialization in tool-making, as well as an increase in textile production towards the conclusion of the rural settlement era. While the textile tools discussed in this research do not encompass all tools utilized during the rural settlement period, efforts have been made to examine the majority of the published findings. The research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, primarily utilizing library resources.
 
Keywords: Southwestern Iran, Rural settlement period, Textile, Spindle-whorl, Loom weight
 
Introduction
The field of textile production is intrinsically linked to the domestication of both animals and plants. Archaeological investigations within the Fertile Crescent reveal that the history of textile manufacturing, particularly concerning wool and plant fibers, is closely tied to the domestication processes of these species. While it is commonly believed that wool is the earliest significant textile material utilized in Mesopotamia, evidence suggests that plant fibers were being processed well before the advent of wool, dating back to the Paleolithic period in Europe and West Asia. Notably, around 17,000 B.C., remnants of string crafted from plant fibers were discovered at the Ohalo II site in Palestine. Due to the high rate of decomposition, textiles are seldom studied in archaeological contexts. Eva Anderson Strand refers to this phenomenon as “Invisible in Archeology,” advocating for the examination of tools and artifacts associated with these cultural materials. The aim of this research is to investigate, present, and analyze objects pertinent to textiles and the textile industry during the rural settlement era in southwestern Iran, focusing on textile tools unearthed from sites such as Ali Kosh, Sabz, Jaffar-Abad, Susa, Chogha-Mish, Bandebal, Jowi, Chogha Banut, Farokh-Abad, and Chogha-Sefid. This study seeks to address the following questions:
       How can the function of some objects obtained from archaeological excavations be recognized in connection with textiles?
       What was the effect of textile production on the social structures of the rural settlement period in southwestern Iran?
       The present research is based on descriptive-analytical studies of the findings of archeological excavations of the sites dating back to the rural settlement period in southwestern Iran using the library method.
 
Study resources
The study resources in this article include tools related to textiles based on archaeological data, historical sources, and images. Among these tools, spindle-whorls stand out as significant artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations at prehistoric sites in southwestern Iran. These spindle-whorls, available in various dimensions and sizes, are employed to create different types of yarn. The primary mechanical characteristics of spindle-whorls include weight, thickness, and diameter, all of which are essential for generating centrifugal force and for enhancing and sustaining rotational speed. Heavier spindle-whorls are ideal for longer fibers such as linen, while lighter spindle-whorls are more appropriate for spinning shorter fibers like wool. Additionally, loom weights represent one of the most frequently encountered archaeological artifacts in the area, serving to regulate the tension of warp threads in vertical weaving apparatuses. Spools, typically crafted from materials such as pottery, clay, and bone, are utilized in various forms to facilitate the passage of yarn during the spinning process.
       In written sources, textile products are known as one of the commercial goods related to Anatolia and Mesopotamia. One of the tablets is the documents related to the trade of ancient Assyrian merchants (1800-1900 B.C.) with Kanesh, the Kul Tepe site in Anatolia, which describes the importation of woolen cloth to Anatolia by Assyrian merchants in exchange for gold, silver, and tin. Additionally, daily activities concerned with fabric production, purchase and sale amounts, and contracts are recorded in it.
       The images featuring seals and imprints related to textiles display relief motifs and draped figures, which offer extensive insights into prehistoric covering methods. Also, they illustrate the impact of materials such as mats, baskets, and cloth on substances like bitumen and clay. In two cylinder seals obtained from the Chogha Mish, the image of women weaving with a long spindle and a horizontal fabric weaving machine is shown. We also observe another example of the imprint in Susa dating back to the third millennium B.C.
 
The role of textiles in socioeconomic structures
The archeological findings obtained from the excavations in the southwest of Iran strengthen the theory that “diversity in textile production can reflect the change in the social structure”. Handicraft production depends on socioeconomic conditions as the basis of production. The basis is the vital factor differentiating between independent and dependent professionals. Independent professionals produce their handicrafts and textiles only for unlimited local consumption in relatively small workshops. A straightforward illustration of this category is the small collectives of women and children engaged in textile production. Their creations were mainly intended for personal and tribal consumption, in contrast to specialized artisans who manufactured goods for the elite or centralized social organizations. These institutions supplied professionals with appropriate workspaces, raw materials, and tools necessary for crafting. Consequently, the handicrafts produced belong completely to the people, who provide the primary resources for the professionals. As the population grew, there was a heightened emphasis on workforce employment. The structuring of the workforce, establishment of specialized workshops, and the development of distinct groups such as felters, spinners, and weavers—evidenced by written records from the Uruk III period—reflect the existing social hierarchy. These developments contributed to an increase in inter-regional trade and the establishment of a system for documenting financial transactions.
 
Conclusion
Archeological findings related to the production of textiles in the rural settlement period have been obtained in abundance from the southwestern sites of Iran. Most of the findings are concerned with silk spindles, loom weights, and bone needles. Although the textile tools investigated in this study are certainly not all the tools used in the rural settlement period, it was attempted to examine most of the published findings. The textile tools in all the mentioned sites were obtained from residential areas and graves, revealing endogenous activities in the settlements of the region. Owing to the excavation limitations in these sites, it is impossible to express a quantitative opinion concerning specialized textile activity; however, the variety of the textile data obtained, especially in spindle-whorls, indicates a specialized activity. The spindle-whorls obtained from the sites of Jaffar Abad, Susa, and Chogha Mish have numerous variations in form, dimensions, size, and decoration. Although trading activities have been prevalent in the southwestern region of Iran since the early rural settlement period, the diversity in production tools and end products can be considered a sign of cultural and economic relations and action.