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SPINDLE WHORL
Unique ID: WMID-42B8F8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A lead plano-convex spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is 35.86 mm in diameter with a central perforation that is 7.3 mm in diameter. Both sides of the whorl are decorated with a line of circular dots in relief, each within a triangular border formed by raised lines which radiate from the central perforation. It has been noted that the weight of a spindle whorl is demonstrative 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, page 184). This example weighs 63.9 grams, so it seems likely that it would have been used to spin a heavy material such as wool. The dating of unstratified Spindle whorls is very difficult as they were used throughout history. However, Egan (1998, page 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. Although decorated examples are known from the Medieval period, it is perhaps more likely that such a decorative example is earlier and this artefact may therefore date to the Roman or Anglo-Saxon period, although this is not certain.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 1500
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 10.44 mm
Weight: 63.9 g
Diameter: 35.86 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 1st August 2010 - Tuesday 31st August 2010
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Staffordshire (County)
District: Lichfield (District)
Parish or ward: Elford (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SK2009
Four figure Latitude: 52.678335
Four figure longitude: -1.705622
1:25K map: SK2009
1:10K map: SK20NW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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