This biconical spindle whorl, with flat upper and lower faces, was made from shale.

Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary stone that can be easily shaped and finished, making it a particularly suitable material for small, functional objects such as this spindle whorl.

The weight and shape of the spindle whorl would have helped maintain momentum during spinning, allowing fibres to be twisted evenly into a yarn.

Spinning was carried out using a drop spindle in combination with a distaff, which held the prepared fibres.

Most spindles and distaffs were likely made from wood and other organic materials, which rarely survive in the archaeological record. It is usually only the spindle whorls that remain as evidence of textile production and domestic crafts.