Quern (1 of 8)

Querns are stone handmills used mostly for grinding cereals. This picture shows the upper 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.

The upper face of the quern has been decorated with a concentric groove and chiselled lines. There is an iron bar across the central hole. An iron handle protrudes from the side and is fastened into the top stone.

Querns are common finds on Roman military sites throughout Britain. They were used to grind the grain and corn used to feed the many soldiers. This quern is made of Niedermendig lava, imported from the Rhineland.

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