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Description: | An incomplete circular cast lead object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is discoidal in form and rectangular (with rounded corners) in section with a flat base and top. It is seemingly undecorated. The artefact measures 35.1mm in diameter with a large spindle hole with a diameter of 12.0mm. The spindle whorl is 8.3mm in thickness and weighs 42g. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle whorl is suggestive of the thickness of yarn produced, with lighter spindle whorls (3 - 5 grams) being used for spinning cotton and the heavier ones (30 - 35 grams) for spinning wool (Margeson 1993, 184). It is therefore likely that this example was used for spinning wool. The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very difficult. Egan (1998, 256) notes that spindle whorls were more highly decorated during the Roman and Saxon periods compared to the medieval period. It is therefore suggested that this object dates to the medieval period. The object has suffered from a break which is evidenced by a fracture seam which runs diagonally up the side. Just less than one half of one of the faces has been lost, both in terms of thickness and surface area. What remains of the spindle whorl is very worn and distorted on both faces. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Webley, Robert - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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