In October 2024, archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) uncovered a fascinating artefact during excavations in Tønsberg. A spinning wheel adorned with four swastikas was found amidst the remains of a 13th-century building identified as a weaving mill. This discovery sheds light on the multifaceted history of the swastika.
The swastika is a symbol that is pious in many parts of South and Southeast Asia but evokes complex emotions in modern-day Europe. However, it was historically widespread as a decorative and symbolic motif.
The Context of the Find
The spinning wheel was unearthed alongside other weaving and textile tools, suggesting the building served as a centre for craft activities, including spinning, sewing, and weaving. Although not indicative of large-scale or professionalised production, the site’s artefacts point to its functional role in textile creation during the Middle Ages. Precise dating of the structure is expected to be completed by January.
Significance of the Spinning Wheel
The spinning wheel was crafted from red sandstone and features a flat base and top with rounded edges. It served as the flywheel of a handwheel, a tool essential for producing thread from both animal and plant fibres. This process was fundamental to the creation of textiles ranging from coarse sacks to elaborate tapestries and garments.
Notably, the spinning wheel bears four swastikas, three facing right and one left. These carvings, confirmed to date from the Middle Ages, are a unique feature. While swastikas are a well-documented element of prehistoric decoration, their appearance on spinning wheels is unprecedented, adding to the artefact’s uniqueness.
The Swastika: A Multifaceted Symbol
The swastika is a simple cross with arms bent at right angles and has been independently adopted by cultures worldwide for thousands of years. Historically, it has served as a religious emblem, a symbol of good fortune, and a decorative motif. In Norway, its use dates back to the Iron Age, appearing on gold bracteates, bedposts, and textiles. The motif persisted into the Middle Ages, as evidenced by graffiti on church walls and a wooden shoemaker’s last discovered in Bergen.
Textiles provide some of the richest examples of swastikas, often woven into patterns using traditional techniques. Randi Stoltz, a Norwegian craftswoman specialising in historical textile reconstruction, has reproduced many such designs, highlighting their symbolic and aesthetic significance. Stoltz emphasises that the interpretation of these symbols depends on the viewer’s perspective, suggesting that they may have represented security, luck, or prosperity in ancient contexts.
Symbolism and Superstition
The swastika’s original meanings are speculative, though it has been associated with sun rays and rotational movement. In the context of the spinning wheel, the swastika’s connotation of rotation seems particularly apt. This symbolism aligns with traditions and superstitions surrounding the winter solstice, a significant event in Norwegian history. Notably, it was customary to abstain from spinning on this day, underscoring the symbolic relationship between the spinning tool and the celestial cycle.
The spinning wheel from Tønsberg invites us to re-examine the historical context of symbols that have since acquired different meanings. While the swastika is now irrevocably linked to its appropriation during the 20th century in Europe, its use in the Middle Ages reflects a vastly different cultural and symbolic landscape. This artefact underscores the importance of archaeology in illuminating the complexities of history and reminding us of the diverse meanings objects and symbols have carried across time.