File:?Roman spindle whorl, obverse (FindID 105744).jpg

English: A circular cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is discoidal in form and rectangular in section with a flat base and top. It is slightly dished on the obverse face. The whorl is seemingly undecorated, although it is notably worn. The artefact measures 28.1mm in diameter with a spindle hole with a diameter of 7.6mm. On both faces there is a slightly raised ridge around the central perforation. The spindle whorl is 5.6mm in thickness and weighs 22.5g. 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 possible that this example was used for spinning wool. The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very difficult. Egan (1998, 256) notes that spindle whorls were more highly decorated during the Roman and Saxon periods compared to the medieval period. However, the preponderance of Roman finds from the vicinty would such an earlier date for this find.