Spindle whorl

A spindle whorl was used in spinning wool, hung at the end of a spindle to act as a fly wheel. This steatite example with a runic inscription was found on the mainland of Orkney. It belonged to a Scandinavian settler or descendant.

The inscription on the whorl reads 'Gautr reist runar', meaning 'Gautr carved the runes'.

Runes are a way of representing the Roman alphabet, used in northern Europe, especially Scandinavia, during the first millennium AD. Many inscriptions are simple, such as names, and may have had some magical properties.

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Online ID:	000-100-033-304-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.BE 360
Date:	Between 1000 and 1200
Material:	Steatite; truncated cone shape; inscribed with runes
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Where:	Scotland, Orkney, Stromness
Event:
Description:	Rune inscribed spindle whorl, from Stromness, Orkney
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