Caption

14. Spindle whorls, bone, lead, stone

From Stora Hellvigs, Fole socken, Gotland, 1300-1361 A. D. A spindle consists of two parts; a stick, the rod, and a weight attached to it, the whorl. With the weight of the whorl as a stabiliser, the spindle can rotate around its own axis and the spinning material can be spun to yarn. Two of the spindle whorls are in the showcase. SHM 21993:7-9