File:?Medieval spindle whorl, obverse (FindID 95976).jpg

English: A worn circular cast lead-alloy object: probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is plano-convex in form, with a flat base and a flattened top. The whorl is undecorated and its surface has suffered from pitting. The artefact measures 22.6mm in diameter with a spindle hole with a diameter of 9.1mm which is slightly off-centre on the upper face. It is 12.9mm in thickness and weighs 31.1g. 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 - 5g) being used for spinning cotton and the heavier ones (30 - 35g) for spinning wool (Margeson 1993, 184). It therefore seems likely that this example was used for spinning wool. The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very difficult. However, Egan (1998, 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. Furthermore, Egan (1998, 261) has also suggested that there may have been an increase in the use of heavier whorls in the late medieval period cope with thicker yarn. It seems likely therefore that this spindle whorl dates from the medieval period.