Record ID: NARC-AA27D5
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A stone spindle whorl of a calcareous sandstone. The spindle whorl is light grey and fine grained, polished until smooth. The spindle whorl is biconvex and measures 29.6 mm in diameter with a spindle hole of 10 mm. It is 14.7 mm thick and weighs 17.1 grams. It is undecorated. There is also slight traces of blackening from burning on one side. It has been pointed out 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 (Margeso…
Created on: Friday 18th March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-AAEB94
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular lead item, probably a spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is very crude and plano-convex in form, with an irregularly flat base and a slightly rounded top. It measures 32 mm in diameter with a spindle hole of 10 mm which is slightly off centred. It is 7.6 mm thick and weighs 36 grams. It is undecorated. It has been pointed out 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). It therefore …
Created on: Friday 18th March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-2B6097
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular cast lead-alloy artefact, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl has a flat biconical section, with each cone truncated by the central perforation for attachment. The whorl is 27.8mm in diameter at its centre, 11.3mm thick, and the circular perforation for attaching to the spindle is 10.6mm in diameter, tapering only slightly to 10.0mm. Each face of the whorl is decorated with zig-zag ribs, with raised dots between the zig-zags. There are approximately fifteen dots on each face, many have been abraded. The whorl weighes 31.0g. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindl…
Created on: Thursday 24th March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-2B6A11
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular cast lead-alloy artefact, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl has a very flat biconical section, with each cone truncated by the central perforation for attachment. The whorl is 32.3mm in diameter at its centre, 11.2mm thick, and the circular perforation for attaching to the spindle is 9.8mm in diameter and does not taper. The upper face of the whorl is decorated with irregular radiating double ribs. Within each pair of ribs there tends to be a pair of raised dots. In the field between two of the pairs there appears to be five dots forming a cross. On the lower face the d…
Created on: Thursday 24th March 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-11AF75
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular cast lead-alloy artefact, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl has a very flat biconical section, with each cone truncated by the central perforation for attachment. The whorl is 31.3mm in diameter at its centre, 11.2mm thick, and the circular perforation for attaching to the spindle is 10.1mm in diameter on either face, tapering to 5.2mm in its centre. The upper face of the whorl is decorated with six irregular diagonal ribs. Two pairs of these ribs form four fields on the face. The two larger fields are themselves divided in two by two further ribs which both are at the sa…
Created on: Monday 4th April 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-1212F4
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast lead-alloy artefact, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl has a circular section, with an off-centre perforation for attachment. The whorl is 26.6mm in diameter at its centre, 10.5mm thick at its thickest point, and 9.1 at its thinnest, and the circular perforation for attaching to the spindle is 10.2mm in diameter and does not taper. The upper face of this crude whorl features an incised line which extends from the edge to the perforation. The lower face is completely undecorated. The whorl weighs 40.5g. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle whorl is demonstrative…
Created on: Monday 4th April 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-121A48
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A cast lead-alloy artefact, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is circular, with an off-centre perforation for attachment. It is 24.9mm in diameter at its centre, 10.5mm thick, and the circular perforation for attaching to the spindle is 9.8mm in diameter, tapering to 8.3mm. The upper face of this crude whorl features what might be the remnant of raised decoration, and also has two striations. The lower face is similarly abraded, but might have had raised decoration around its edge and around its perforation. The whorl weighs 36.9g. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle…
Created on: Monday 4th April 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-1D1BD3
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular cast lead-alloy item, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is very crude and approximately plano-convex in form, with an irregularly flat base and a slightly flattened top. There are striations on the upper face. Damage is also apparent in the form of two sub-triangular gouges: one along the longer edge, the other on the lower face off the spindle hole. The object measures 27.6mm in diameter with an off-centred spindle hole of 8.5mm. The whorl is 7.6mm thick and weighs 21.9 grams. It is undecorated. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle whorl is suggestive of …
Created on: Wednesday 11th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-897258
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A lead plano-convex spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is 32 mm in diameter with a central perforation that is 11.6 mm in diameter. The whorl is decorated with two lines of circular dots in relief, one line around the central perforation, the other around the external edge. Further decoration consists of a five pointed star, also in relief, formed around the perforation. All of this decoration is visible on both sides of the artefact. 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 us…
Created on: Monday 16th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-9FEC37
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A worn circular cast lead-alloy object: probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is plano-convex in form, with a flat base and a flattened top. The whorl is undecorated and its surface has suffered from pitting. The artefact measures 22.6mm in diameter with a spindle hole with a diameter of 9.1mm which is slightly off-centre on the upper face. It is 12.9mm in thickness and weighs 31.1g. 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 - 5g) being used for spinning cotton and the heavier ones (30 - 35g…
Created on: Tuesday 17th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-3139E0
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl has a shallow plano-convex form, with a flat base and a flattened top. The whorl is undecorated and its surface has suffered from wear and corrosion. The artefact measures 36.5mm in diameter with a spindle hole of diameter 8.75mm. There is a shallow circular indentation on the lower face between outer edge and spindle hole. On the upper face there are a pair of striations. It is 8.5mm in thickness and weighs 57.1 grams. It has been pointed out that the weight of a spindle whorl is suggestive of the thickness of ya…
Created on: Tuesday 24th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-32E581
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A teardrop-shaped cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl takes the form of a 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 is undecorated and its surface has suffered from corrosion and heavy pitting. The artefact measures 27.5mm in length, 25.6mm in width, with a spindle hole with a diameter of 11.2mm. The spindle hole is off-centre, towards the apex of the straight edges. The spindle whorl is 13.3mm in thickness and weighs 38.6 grams. It has been poin…
Created on: Tuesday 24th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-332737
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
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.…
Created on: Tuesday 24th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-3400B5
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
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. The whorl is seemingly undecorated although it has also suffered from considerable corrosion. The artefact measures 31.0mm in diameter with a spindle hole with a diameter of 10.6mm. The spindle hole is slightly off-centred. The spindle whorl is 6.85mm in thickness and weighs 39.5g. 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 fo…
Created on: Tuesday 24th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-7257E1
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A circular lead spindle whorl. The spindle whorl is plano-convex in form, with an irregularly flat base and a domed top. It measures 30 mm in diameter with a spindle hole of 11.5 mm. It is 18 mm thick and weighs 57 grams. It is undecorated and in a fairly poor state of preservation. 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). It therefore seems likely that this very heavy e…
Created on: Friday 27th May 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-8E7F87
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A very small lead plano-convex spindle whorl. The whorl is 17 mm in diameter and has a central perforation for the spindle which measures 6 mm in diameter. The whorl is undecorated. It weighs 6 grams. 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). It therefore seems likely that this light example was used for spinning cotton. The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very d…
Created on: Thursday 28th July 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-0CCD15
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Published
A lead spindle whorl. The whorl is domed and measures 22 mm in diamater with a spindle hole of 8.8 mm in diameter. The whorl weighs 40.4 grams. 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 linen and the heavier ones (30 - 35 grams) for spinning wool (Margeson 1993, page 184). It therefore seems likely that this very heavy example was used for spinning wool. The dating of unstratified spindle whorls is very difficult but it has been suggested that there may have …
Created on: Wednesday 3rd August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-0B7227
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A crude lead weight, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is discoidal in shape and is of a small diameter (15.2 mm) with a central perforation of 5.5 mm. The whorl weighs 7.4 grams. It has been pointed out 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 or another light textile and the heavier ones (30 - 35 grams) for spinning wool (Margeson 1993, page 184). It therefore seems likely that this whorl would have been used for spinning a light fabric. Unstratified spindle whorls…
Created on: Monday 15th August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-488342
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: ROMAN
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
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 l…
Created on: Tuesday 30th August 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.

Record ID: NARC-576B97
Object type: SPINDLE WHORL
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
County: Northamptonshire
Workflow stage: Awaiting validation
A worn and abraded sub-circular cast lead-alloy object, probably a spindle whorl. The whorl is broadly discoidal in form and sub-rectangular in section with a flat base and top. It is slightly convex on the reverse. The whorl is crudely decorated on the obverse face. There is a centrally incised square which incorporates the spindle hole in one of its corners. Further lines irregularly radiate out perpendicular from the edges of the square. The artefact measures 25.7mm in length; the spindle hole has a diameter of 5.0mm. The spindle whorl is 5.6mm in thickness and weighs 20.6g. It h…
Created on: Monday 12th September 2005
Last updated: Thursday 24th February 2011
Spatial data recorded.