SPINAZZI-LUCCHESI, Chiara (218). The Unwound Yarn. Birth and Development of Textile Tools between Levant and Egypt; Venice: Edizioni CaFoscari, Antichistica 18. ISSN: 2610-881X. Soft cover, 202 pp, black/white illustrations, line drawings, charts, bibliography, no index, Price: €35 (ex. postage).

The book is based on a PhD thesis presented to Ca’Foscari University, Venice (Italy). It looks at different aspects of the production of textiles, especially linen, hemp and woollen forms (although other types, notably nettle, esparto grass and pinna are also discussed), from the Levant and Ancient Egypt. In particular emphasis is placed on the nearly 344 textile tools (including sewing equipment) now housed in the Museo Egizio, Turin (Italy). These have been described in detail concerning what they are made of, the various types, and their functions. The aim of the author is to inspire archaeologists to take textile tools more seriously and to include more details about these and similar finds.

Recommendation: The book is a good over view of relevant archaeological finds of textile tools in the Levant and Egypt. It should be in any library dealing with the production of textiles and their use in the ancient Near East.

Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood