12,000-Year-Old Artifacts Reveal Early Use of Rotational Technology

Ancient stone discs found in Israel suggest early human experimentation with spindle whorls, predating the wheel by millennia.

Researchers discovered 113 perforated stone discs at Nahal Ein-Gev II, a site near the Sea of Galilee, dating back 12,000 years.
The stones are believed to be spindle whorls, used for spinning thread, marking an early use of rotational technology.
3D scanning technology revealed the stones' precise design, with bi-directional drilled holes for effective spinning.
Experimental archaeology confirmed these tools could spin flax and wool, although flax was more efficiently spun.
The study challenges traditional narratives about the origins of wheel-based technologies, suggesting a complex evolution.