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Description: | A pair of circular cast lead-alloy objects, probably spindle whorls. The smaller of the two artefacts is broadly discoidal in form and rectangular with rounded corners in section with a flat base and top. It is both worn and plain. The artefact measures 29.7mm in length and 27.1mm in width; the spindle hole has a diameter of 9.2mm. On the obverse face the spindle hole has lateral losses on either side as if a object has been pushed against one side and then against the other. The spindle whorl is 9.7mm in thickness and weighs 45.4g. The second artefact, the larger, takes the form of a shallow frustum (truncated cone), and is trapezoidal in section with a flat base and top. It is both worn and seemingly plain; there are scars on the obverse face ranging from large losses to a pair of incised parallel lines. The artefact measures 34.3mm in diameter with an irregular spindle hole of diameter 8.2mm. The spindle hole appears lozengiform on the obverse and has also suffered losses. On the reverse face it has a raised border. The spindle whorl is 11.5mm in thickness and weighs 72.0g. 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 probable that both of these examples were 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 probable therefore that these objects date to the medieval period.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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