File:A cast lead weight, possibly a spindle whorl that is heavily abraded dating between 1100 and 1600AD. (FindID 530674).jpg

English: A cast lead weight, possibly a spindle whorl that is heavily abraded dating between 1100 and 1600AD. The weight is flat sub-circular with a circular perforation running through the centre. The weight has a maximum external diameter of 26mm, and the central perforation has a maximum diameter of 9mm. The external and internal sides are broadly flat. One side of the weight is decorated with raised but rather indistinct pellets. The weight has a dull cream/light brown coloured surface. In the "Finds Recording Guide", Geake (2001, p66) points out that: "The function of leads weights would have varied, from spindle-whorls to fishing weights to trade weights." She adds that spindle whorls should ideally be circular and must have a central perforation (ibid.). It is possible, therefore, that this lead weight is a spindle whorl. At the Austin Friary in Leicester (see Mellor and Pearce, 1981), a decorated whorl was found, still on its spindle, in a 13th to 15th century context. However, Geake (ibid.) states: "Dating of lead whorls is difficult. The drop spindle with which they were used continued in use until the end of the Medieval period in London and Winchester (Egan, 1998, "The Medieval Household: Daily Living c1150 - c1450", 255-261; and Biddle, 1990, "Object and Economy in Medieval Winchester"), and for perhaps a century longer in Norfolk (Margeson, 1993, "Norwich Households: Medieval and Post Medieval finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971 - 78",184-5)." She adds that, in Cottam in East Yorkshire, detectorists found decorated whorls in ploughsoil over the site of Roman buildings (Geake, ibid.). Without further context, is it not possible to closely date this lead weight. The diameter is 27mm.