Internet Archaeol. 25. Creighton et al. Other Finds. Rotary querns

7.2 Rotary querns

Figure 97: Rotary quern 1 from L'Haut des Champs

Figure 98: Rotary quern 2 from L'Haut des Champs

The gridded surface collection at L'Haut des Champs (UF 75) yielded pieces of the upper stones of two different querns, both of Roman type.

Part of the upper stone of a flat rotary quern (Fig. 97). The quern has a vertical edge, with a convex top surface and concave grinding face. No traces of handle holes or central hopper are present. Diameter of stone c. 420mm. Volcanic stone/lava, perhaps from the Auvergne. 380 x 170 mm x Th 80mm (object ID B2002-303-75-1; from grid square [7]). Similar examples are known from excavations on Mont Beuvray (Büchsenschütz and Boyer 1999, 215, nos 34 and 40), both from Augustan contexts.

A substantial piece of the upper stone of a large rotary quern (Fig. 98). The upper face is inclined down towards the centre and has a slight ridge around the circumference; the outer edge of the stone is near-vertical. The grinding face is steeply angled and has large quartz grits protruding; there is some wear around the outer edge; pock-marking towards the centre of the grinding face may be deliberate. What remains of the central eye is angular and not central to the stone, indicating a large elongated eye c. 160mm in length or a more complex arrangement characteristic of a mechanically driven millstone - the precise details cannot be reconstructed from what remains. Diameter of stone c. 600mm. Sandstone, probably from a local source such as Planoise, in the hills close to Autun. 500 x 25mm x Th 140mm (object ID B2002-303-75-2; from grid square [12]). A similar example is known from excavations on Mont Beuvray (Büchsenschütz and Boyer 1999, 215, no. 45), deriving from an Augustan-period context.

PREVIOUS NEXT CONTENTS HOME