Quern (7 of 8)

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Querns are stone handmills used mostly for grinding cereals. This picture shows the bottom of the lower stone of a rotary quern found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It was used sometime between 80 and 180 AD.

Unlike the other faces of the two stones forming the quern, this one was left rough and unfinished. It would have rested on the ground.

Querns of lava were imported by the Romans from the Rhineland. The volcanic lava was light, but very strong.

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-282-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 1641
• Date: Between 80 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Niedermendig lava
  Quern, rotary
  
• Dimensions: 4.50" H x 16.50" D x 5.50"
  
• What: Quern, rotary
  
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Roman hand-driven rotary quern made of Niedermendig lava, from Newstead
  
• References:
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