The constant companion of the spindle was the spindle whorl — a small weight, typically made of clay or stone, with a central hole. Despite its modest size, the whorl played a crucial role in the ancient craft of spinning: it was slipped onto the spindle’s shaft to add mass and increase inertia. This allowed the spindle to spin longer and more steadily, producing a strong, evenly twisted thread.

Once spun, the thread was wound directly onto the spindle shaft and secured at the top with a loop to prevent slipping or tangling. Spindles were generally classified into three types based on the position of the whorl. Top-whorl spindles, where the weight sits near the upper end, were particularly well-suited for medium and fine fibers. This type was among the oldest and most widespread, with roots in ancient Egypt and common use across the Americas. Bottom-whorl spindles, with the weight at the base, offered greater versatility and work well with a wide range of fibers. Examples have been found on every inhabited continent and remain in use in many traditional textile communities today. Finally, mid-whorl spindles, with the weight centered along the shaft, were typically compact and lightweight — ideal for spinning delicate fibers like cotton, cashmere, or fine wool.

Thanks to their durability and compact size, spindle whorls survive exceptionally well in the ground and are therefore among the most common artifacts found by archaeologists. Among the most prized in Eastern Europe were those made of Ovruch slate — a fine-grained pyrophyllite shale quarried near the town of Ovruch (now in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine). This was the only known deposit of its kind in Eastern Europe, and the stone’s heat resistance, ease of carving, and smooth polish made it perfect for crafting whorls.

Ovruch whorls were highly sought after throughout Ancient Rus, and beyond. Their production flourished until the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, when local workshops were destroyed and slate whorl manufacturing ceased for centuries. In the aftermath, potters once again turned to clay to make spinning weights. These whorls were small but precisely balanced — typically weighing about 16 grams, with heights ranging from 4 to 12 millimeters and diameters from 10 to 25 millimeters.

In traditional households, spindle whorls were treated with respect, sometimes even reverence. Many were personalized: a woman might carve her name or a protective symbol onto the surface. Folk belief held that placing a whorl on the table invited misfortune: “Don’t put a whorl on the table — you’ll earn forty sins”.

Today, the Unecha Museum of Local Lore houses an extensive collection of spindle whorls spanning many centuries — quiet witnesses to the skill, patience, and daily labor of our ancestors.