Spinning and weaving were major tasks for Egyptian women from Neolithic times onward. Flax fibres would be formed into roves that would then have to be spun to form linen threads. Egyptian spindles were spun with the whorl on the top. Commonly the spindle was allowed to drop and the weight of the whorl was used to maintain the spin. The grey limestone truncated cone with the perforation through the centre in this example is original. The wooden stick tapering at the bottom and the linen threads are modern elements that have been added to show how the spindle whorl was used. Most Egyptian thread was spun anti-clockwise (s-spun). Two or more threads were often twisted together to make a plied yarn. Once threads were made, they could be used for weaving or sewing.