Tools used for thread spinning, the whorls played an important role in manufacturing of the prestigious Wari textiles. The dexterity of female thread spinners was truly remarkable. They could make threads so fine that in some of the textiles found at Castillo de Huarmey there are 66 threads per square centimetre. A total of 357 whorls have been discovered in the royal funerary chamber. They were made of various materials such as stone, metal, and pottery. Within the array of stone whorls the ones with sculpted decoration imitating architectural models stand out. Another important group in the collection are the metal whorls. Most of them were made of copper alloys, with some silver ones as well. However the most exceptional are the four golden ones that have been found in baskets belonging to the two most important women in the royal tomb.

Roberto Pimentel Nita