Statistical analysis of some loomweights from Pompeii: a postscript

Title

Statistical analysis of some loomweights from Pompeii: a postscript

Creator(s)

Baxter, Michael J.

Cool, Hilary E.M.

Anderson, Michael Andrew

Date

2010

Is Part Of

Archeologia e Calcolatori

Volume

21

Pages

185–200

Language

eng

Rights

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

URI

http://www.archcalc.cnr.it/journal/id.php?id=571

Zotero BiDiAr

https://www.zotero.org/groups/5293298/bidiar/items/YNI3YGF3/item-list

Abstract

In 2008 the authors undertook a detailed statistical analysis of the dimensions of a large sample of loomweights from Insula VI.1, Pompeii. A major finding was that the weights of the loomweights appeared to have a bimodal distribution. Further analysis using loomweights that have come to light since the original work strengthens this observation. An analysis of loomweight volume has been undertaken with a view to predicting weight from volume for incomplete loomweights where sufficient information is retained to allow a volume calculation. Recently published experimental work allows an interpretation of the bimodality of the weights in terms of the loom set-up and the cloth being woven, and this is explored in some detail, along with further, tentative, observations on the chronology of the weights.