People began spinning fibers into threads some 40,000 years ago or even earlier. Initially, fibers were simply rolled between the fingers. Spindle whorls were invented much later, perhaps around 7,000 years ago.

The muskox, a formidable animal from the “ice age,” is depicted in cave paintings from the Paleolithic era. Incidentally, its fur yields one of today’s most fine and expensive yarns, known as qiviut.

I crafted a spinning whorl from walnut wood and spun thread from muskox yarn as an experiment in an attempt to create a themed thread for the Paleo ivory jewelry I was making. However, it remained at the experimental stage and was never pursued further.