An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s25.1

v1.c11.s25.1

Spindle-whorls are circular objects, with one or more central holes, used as a flying wheel in a spindle (*takli*). They may either be disc-shaped or plano-convex in section, made of materials like terracotta, bone, shell, faïence, stone, metal and wood. The one-holed whorls, fixed to simple metal or wooden spindles, were possibly used in spinning cotton as can be guessed from their light weight and small size of the hole. In whorls with more than one hole as many split wooden spindles were used, possibly to spin coarse fabric such as jute. It is quite likely that the large terracotta objects identified beads shaped like an areca-nut, with a concave base, often found at habitation sites, were also used as spindle-whorls.