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SPINDLE WHORL
Unique ID: WAW-665254
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Roman or Medieval (1st to 15th century) spindle whorl: The lead whorl is flat, discoidal and circular in plan with a circular central aperture of 10.48mm diameter. The whorl is undecorated. The whorl has a cream patina. It is 28.2mm diameter, 5.52mm thick and weighs 21.4g.
Spindle whorls, as an artefact type, can be hard to date accurately as they remained in use for a long period of time, however lead alloy spindle whorls of this type are normally attributed to the Medieval period (c. AD 1100 to AD 1450). The weight of the spindle whorl is suggestive of a fine silk or linen thread being spun, as there is a direct relationship between the weight of the whorl and the thickness of the resulting thread. Fine threads such as silk require a lighter whorl than those used to spun wool or linen.
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: 5.52 mm
Weight: 21.4 g
Diameter: 28.2 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Friday 26th September 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
County or Unitary authority: Worcestershire (County)
District: Wychavon (District)
Parish or ward: Upton Warren (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SO9367
Four figure Latitude: 52.30107622
Four figure longitude: -2.10407458
1:25K map: SO9367
1:10K map: SO96NW
Grid reference source: From finder
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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