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Description: | A lead plano-convex spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is 26mm in diameter with a central perforation that is 7mm in diameter. While one side of the whorl is decorated with groups of two or three dots set apart by lines in relief, the other is decoration with a criss/cross of lines making up several overlaying star shapes, formed around the perforation. It has been noted that the weight of a spindle whorl is demonstrative 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, page 184). This example weighs 26 grams, so it seems likely that it would have been used to spin a heavy material such as wool. The dating of unstratified Spindle whorls is very difficult. However, Egan (1998, page 256) has argued that there was an apparent lack of interest in developing decorative versions of spindle whorls during the Medieval period, compared to the decorative examples known from the Roman and Saxon periods. Although decorated examples are known from the Medieval period, it seems more likely that such a decorative example is earlier and this artefact probably therefore dates to the Roman or Anglo-Saxon period. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 200
1400 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Dot Boughton | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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A lead plano-convex spindle whorl.…
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