File:?Medieval spindle whorl, reverse (FindID 96596).jpg

English: A teardrop-shaped cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl takes the form of a frustum (truncated cone/pyramid) with two straight edges and a semi-circle, and is thus sub-trapezoidal in profile, with a flat base and a flat top. The whorl is undecorated and its surface has suffered from corrosion and heavy pitting. The artefact measures 27.5mm in length, 25.6mm in width, with a spindle hole with a diameter of 11.2mm. The spindle hole is off-centre, towards the apex of the straight edges. The spindle whorl is 13.3mm in thickness and weighs 38.6 grams. 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 therefore seems likely that this very heavy 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.