3. Araju and Asphodel

The skilled hands of Pasqualina, guided by delicate and ancient mastery, thread the araju, a needle made from animal bone, through the poetic weaving of asphodel, creating various types of small tools for everyday use.

The Mediterranean Asphodel (iscralea in Sardinian) is a perennial and spontaneous plant native to the Mediterranean basin. With its upright and showy form, it can reach a height of up to 150 cm, adorning the vast landscapes of Sardinia with its flowers from February to May.

Its tuberous roots were used as a food source during times of scarcity. The plant yields excellent honey, and its flower is often depicted in Sardinian weaving, ceramics, and inlay.

From the pithy part of the asphodel stem, ribbons are produced for the interlacing and crafting of baskets and small tools. This activity is deeply cherished in Loculi, as in other villages in Sardinia. Originally passed down from woman to woman as an essential element of family economy, in recent times it has been shared with more people both as a hobby and to preserve and promote this ancient and characteristic art. The custodians and promoters of the weaving craft in Loculi were Tzia Italia Piredda, now deceased, and her daughter Maria Grazia.

The processing of asphodel involves preparation that can span several months.

At the beginning of spring, which in Loculi corresponds to the end of March, the plant is harvested while still green, including the bulb, and left to dry for an extended period. After the drying phase, the bark is separated from the inner part of the stem. With the help of su araju (the needle), the inner part, also known as the pith, is woven to create a wide variety of utensils used in daily life. These include sas sportas, used for carrying flour, broad beans, or other foods; su canistedhu for storing pane carasatu between the first and second baking phases (carasare); sas canistedhas for holding pane carasatu on the table, as well as other forms of small baskets for sweets and other purposes.