Quern-stone

Nepali women using quern-stones to grind grains

A quern-stone is a stone tool for hand-grinding a wide variety of materials, especially for various types of grains.

They are used in pairs. The lower stationary stone of early examples is called a saddle quern, while the upper mobile stone is called a muller, rubber, or handstone. The upper stone was moved in a back-and-forth motion across the saddle quern. Later querns are known as rotary querns. The central hole of a rotary quern is called the eye, and a dish in the upper surface is known as the hopper. A handle slot contained a handle which enabled the rotary quern to be rotated.^[1]

They were first used in the Neolithic era to grind cereals into flour.^[2]

^ McLaren D, Hunter F (2008). "New aspects of rotary querns in Scotland". Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 113: 106. ISSN 0081-1564.
^ "Explore/Highlights: Quern stone for making flour". London: The British Museum. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009.

[McLaren113p106-1] McLaren D, Hunter F (2008). "New aspects of rotary querns in Scotland". Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 113: 106. ISSN 0081-1564.

[britmus-2] "Explore/Highlights: Quern stone for making flour". London: The British Museum. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009.

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