SPINDLE WHORL

A complete Roman ceramic spindle whorl (AD 43- 409).

This spindle whorl is sub-circular in plan and sub-rectangular in cross-section. A slightly off-centre circular hole has a diameter of c. 4.1mm. Close to the edge, another hole with a similar diameter does not fully penetrate the fabric.

It is made from locally produced Vectis Ware and curvature indicates that it is from the body of a vessel, rather than the base.

The edges are abraded.

Length: 31.17mm; width: 30.29mm; thickness: 6.33mm. Weight: 7.15g.

'Vectis ware is hand-made, well finished and relatively hard, being barely scratched with the fingernail. Its internal and external surface is partly reddish-yellow (Munsell Color 5YR 6/6), which is the colour yielded by a characteristic oxidised crust which is usually weakly visible due to a more general darkening of the final surface burnishing. The colour produced by burnishing is usually very dark grey (Munsell Color 5YR 3/1) but hints of the reddish sub-surface is ever present in the form of oxidised patches or a general speckling. On a few pots the burnish has seemingly failed and the whole the whole of the surface may be reddened. In such cases the oxidised sub-surface may tend to decay and laminate. A macroscopic examination of the core of a typical Vectis ware sherd reveals 10-20% sub-angular medium quartz sand...The Combley [Roman Villa, Isle of Wight] kiln bars show 20% honey and milky translucent quartz grains but in other variants black morion quartz and shell sea sand have been noted. Vectis ware may be decorated with burnished hatching which, like that on black burnished ware, is frequently difficult to discern. On rare vessels, like forms 30 and 32, comb point decoration is employed' (Tomalin 1987: 31).

Tomalin, D. J. 1987. Roman Wight: A Guide Catalogue. Newport, Isle of Wight: Isle of Wight Council.