In an exciting discovery from Israel’s Nahal-Ein Gev II archaeological site, a collection of perforated, donut-shaped stones may represent some of the earliest evidence of wheel-like technology in human history. According to a study published in PLOS ONE by researchers Talia Yashuv and Leore Grosman from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, these 12,000-year-old stones likely served as spindle whorls, essential tools for spinning fibers into yarn. This discovery suggests that early humans may have laid the groundwork for rotational technology long before the invention of the cartwheel. The Untold History of The Wheel And Its Evolution Mysterious Medicine Wheels of the American West Spindle Whorls: A Key Step in Rotational Technology Spindle whorls are small, weighted objects that attach to a spindle stick, allowing it to spin more efficiently. These devices, when connected to a spindle, mimic the structure of a wheel and axle by rotating around a central axis, creating a steady motion used to twist fibers like flax or wool into yarn. This ancient technology resembles the more well-known wheel-and-axle system used in transportation but on a smaller scale and with a different purpose. Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient TechnologyNewsHistory & ArchaeologyRead Later