File:Cast lead or lead alloy uniface weight (FindID 562304).jpg

English: A cast lead weight, probably possibly Medieval 14^th to 17^th century AD. The weight is flat sub-circular with a raised circular moulding in the middle surrounding a perforation running through the centre. The weight has a maximum external diameter of 22mm, and the central perforation has a maximum diameter of 9mm and the weight is 24.24g. One side of the weight is decorated with raised but rather indistinct and worn circular 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 but more likely to be a fishing weight. 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.