File:Grindstone (illustrated by George Scott) (FindID 811169).jpg

English: A grinding stone or pestle of uncertain date, sub-circular in plan, a narrow oval in profile and section. Made from a greywacke sandstone beach cobble from the Crackington Formation dating from of the Upper Carboniferous age (332 to 290 million years BP). There is a shallow, linear scar in the centre of the dorsal face, at an angle of 45 degrees from the medial line and 30mm in length may be contemporary with its use or later plough damage. A shorter, deeper scar near the distal end may also be the result of plough damage.

The distal end of the cobble has been broken off to form a flat, oval surface, 60mm long and 30mm wide which may have been used for pounding or grinding. The cobble appears to be otherwise unmodified.

The perimeter of the oval 'pounding' surface is undamaged, apart from a very slight scar, probably plough damage, originating from the centre of its boundary with the ventral surface. This suggests that the tool was used for grinding or pounding rather than as a hammerstone. The surface of the stone is grey-brown grading to pale grey in colour. The dorsal surface is mottled with patches of red-brown iron carbonate staining.

A pestle with a flattened base that has been utilised, found in a roundhouse at Scarcewater dating from the Middle Bronze Age, is illustrated in Jones and Taylor (2010) on page 122, fig.60, no.230.