Objects

(1)

Filter Results

Filtered To: 1

Filters
Search
  • Saddle quern

    This large stone was found in a garden in Moss and is now on display in An Iodhlann. Saddle querns are thought to date from the Bronze Age. They are in two parts: the bedstone, which was a piece of local rock, too heavy to move very far, and a rubber or handstone, which was pushed up and down the groove. Experiments have shown that a saddle quern can produce fine flour from grain, the main disadvantage being that it can hold only a small amount of meal at a time, making meal production a slow business. Going from evidence from different cultures around the world, grinding was mainly women’s work. The improved round rotary quern was introduced from Europe in the Early Iron Age, around 500 BC. Indeed, an example was found by Euan MacKie in Dùn Mòr Bhalla at Vaul. Many surviving examples are broken, like this one. It may be that this was done ritually.
    Type:
    Island:
    Township: