Timeless are very pleased to offer a very unusual Neolithic Quern Stone dating between 4000 and 6000 years old.
Quern stones are stone tools still used today in some parts of the world for hand-grinding a wide variety of material, and were widely used during the Neolithic period, roughly from 10,200 BC to 2,000 BCE.
The term "quern" refers specifically to a pair of stones used for milling grain, but the concept is broadly applicable to any stones used to grind materials such as seeds, nuts, herbs, or ores. In this particular example, the stone would have been used a little like a rolling pin, grinding grains on a flat stone.
During the Neolithic period, quern stones played a crucial role in food production. They allowed for the grinding of grains into flour for bread and other foodstuffs. This period is characterized by the advent of farming and the shift from hunter-gatherer societies to more settled agricultural communities. As such, quern stones represent a significant technological development of this era.
Quern stones also held symbolic or cultural significance in some societies and were often included as grave goods. In some cultures, large querns such as this peice were passed down from generation to generation, reflecting their value to the household.
Measuring over 90cm in length and mounted on a base of aged oak we can almost guarantee that none of your friends owns one!
We would be very surprised if you could find a piece like this with any other supplier. Now available in the Timeless Galleries
VERY UNUSUAL STONE AGE QUERN STONE
Acquired by Timeless Galleries on the UK Antiquities market, 2022. Previously of North African provenance.