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Description: | A lead alloy spindle whorl of Roman to Post Medieval date, abaout AD 1200 - 1600. The lead whorl is flat, discoidal and circular in plan with a circular central aperture of 11.25mm diameter. It is undecorated and has a cream patina. It is 28.4mm in diameter, and 8.2mm thick. It weighs 36.01gm.WAW-665254 notes that: "Spindle whorls, as an artefact type, can be hard to date accurately as they remained in use for a long period of time, however lead alloy spindle whorls of this type are normally attributed to the Medieval period (c. AD 1100 to AD 1450). The weight of the spindle whorl is suggestive of a fine silk or linen thread being spun, as there is a direct relationship between the weight of the whorl and the thickness of the resulting thread. Fine threads such as silk require a lighter whorl than those used to spun wool or linen." Spindle whorls remained in use until the adoption of the spinning wheel in the 16th century.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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