In the ancient Peucetian settlement of Monte Sannace, researchers have discovered a ritualized weaving area containing a loom frame preserved by volcanic ash. The loom weights and the wooden frame itself show traces of cinnabar, a rare and expensive red pigment, suggesting the creation of sacred textiles.
This find is being linked to the "Festival of the Great Loom," an early Italic tradition where new garments were woven for the community's ancestral statues during the spring equinox. The presence of votive figurines holding miniature textiles supports the theory that weaving was a central ritual act. The discovery provides evidence of the high status of female artisans in pre-Roman Italy and their role in orchestrating seasonal religious celebrations.