These two flywheels or spindle whorls were recovered from the Leary Site and donated to the Kansas Historical Society. The artifacts were likely used for spinning yarn or to help in drilling holes. They were made from broken pottery sherds and reshaped and repurposed for a new function. The Leary site was a large Oneota village that likely was periodically occupied by other groups. The site straddles the state line between Kansas and Nebraska, with a large portion on the Richardson County, Nebraska side and a smaller portion on the Brown County, Kansas side. The site was primarily occupied during the Late Prehistoric period, with a few radiocarbon dates suggesting 1194 to 1477 CE.
Kansas Memory
Kansas Historical Society
Flywheels or Spindle Whorls from the Leary Site, 25RH1 - 3