File:?Medieval spindle whorl, reverse (FindID 96605).jpg

English: A small teardrop-shaped cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl takes the form of a shallow 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 has possible ribbed decoration and its surface has suffered from corrosion. The artefact measures 21.0mm in length, 19.3mm in width, with a spindle hole with a diameter of 7.9mm. The spindle hole is slightly uneven and echoes the shape of the spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is 5.7mm in thickness and weighs 11.2 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 is therefore hard to suggest whether this example was used for spinning one as opposed to the other. 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.