quernstone

A quernstone is a type of mill used for grinding grain and other food items into flour or meal. It typically consists of two stones, one stationary and one that rotates. The lower stone is called the quernstone or the bedstone, while the upper stone is known as the runner stone or the millstone. Grain is introduced into a hole in the center of the runner stone, and as the runner stone is turned, usually by hand, the grain is crushed and ground between the two surfaces.

Quernstones have been used for thousands of years, with evidence found in prehistoric archaeological sites across the world. They were a primary tool for food preparation in many ancient and medieval societies, allowing for the production of flour for bread and other staple foods. Early querns were often made from readily available materials like granite or sandstone. The design evolved over time, with some later querns incorporating a spindle to facilitate rotation and a hopper to guide the grain.

The manual effort required to operate a quernstone meant that grinding grain was often a time-consuming and physically demanding task, typically performed by women. The introduction of larger, more sophisticated milling technologies, such as watermills and windmills, gradually replaced the domestic quernstone in many areas, though querns continued to be used in some regions well into the modern era. Today, quernstones are primarily found in museums or as historical artifacts, representing an important technological development in human history.