Archaeologists Discover Medieval Spinning Whorl Decorated With Distinct Symbols on Its Surface, History Older Than the Nazis

In a rare find, archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, or NIKU, found a 13th-century spinning whorl with swastika symbols while on an excavation in Tønsberg, Norway, in 2024. The whorl is made from red sandstone and is said to bear three right-facing swastikas and one left-facing, according to NIKU. It has a design rich in historical and cultural significance.

It came from the generalized excavation in the remains of a medieval weaving mill, a space in which various activities related to textiles presumably took place. Several other finds from the same site include weights of looms, a copper alloy thimble, and a decorated antler object. Taken together, these finds paint a bright picture of daily life in medieval Norway, where spinning, weaving, and sewing were among the household and community functions.

According to Hanne Ekstrøm Jordahl, archaeologist and project manager for the excavation, the swastika carvings are significant. She said, "The spinning whorl was located between two-floor phases in the remains of a house from the 13th century. The swastikas were carved during the Middle Ages. So far, we have not found any parallels of swastikas on other spinning whorls," stated Euro Weekly News. 

The swastika is a very old symbol whose origin by several thousand years precedes that of the Nazi Party. Its etymology goes back to the Sanskrit word swasti, which means "good luck" or "well-being," as per Euro Weekly News. Throughout history, it has appeared in cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, generally associated with prosperity, sun energy, or cyclical motion. In Norway, the history of the swastika goes back to the Iron Age. Excavations have found the sign on gold bracelets, rock engravings, and fabrics. Examples include Snartemo textiles in Agder and the Oseberg ship burial in Tønsberg, both from the Iron Age, as per IFL Science. Jordahl pointed out that although swastikas are not unusual in Norwegian archaeology, in a spinning whorl they are for the first time.

The whorl is an implement of thread-spinning—the very beginning of textile manufacture. Its incised designs may represent the cycle of spinning or perhaps even function as a charm against bad luck. Jordahl proposed that the swastika's shape represents solar rays or rotary motion; either of these meanings would be most appropriate for a spinning implement.

This find points out how the symbols change through time. As much as the swastika is linked to Nazi ideology today, Tønsberg whorl reminds one of the ancient origins of this symbol and how it has been used in various meanings across cultures. The excavation also adds to the medieval life understanding, but it most certainly sheds light on the history of symbols with layers. As Jordahl observed, such finds represent a closer-to-the-bone connection with the common heritage of mankind and illustrate how cultural values can be encapsulated in even the most ordinary items.