File:Roman, Quern Stone (FindID 832043).jpg

English: An incomplete Roman puddingstone beehive quern stone, dating to the period AD 1-150

There are a few types of Puddingstone, Green (2017) suggests that it is French and has been imported. A possible suggestion for this importation is that the stones used for this conglomerate are extremely hard, so hard over in Hertfordshire that it was very difficult to use, but due to its tough exterior, it produced almost grit free flour, therefore a much demanded product (Green 2017). French stones are earlier than Hertfordshire products, and were in fact the basis of a whole industry, as it spread from the Haut of Normandie to Worms Heath in Surrey, and then to Hertfordshire (Green 2017). The object also fits French criteria by being rather large; it is similar to Hertfordshire, but the lithology is very distinctive. Green (2017) also suggests that the inclusions are very visible within its saccharoidal matrix with black, grey and brown cut pebbles.

The quern is domed in shape, like a beehive with a flat base which reflects the most wear (or glazing). The whole of its anterior surface presents flint inclusions but not so much glazing and wear. The glazing is distributed rather evenly across the base, but there are visible patches which are extremely smooth and shiny. There is a significant area of the side missing, and part of this would have originally accommodated a wooden handle which would have aided the person using the quern moving it. There is evidence of this as part of the area has a circular hollowed area where a wooden handle would have comfortably fitted and further wear is reflected in this cavity too. The central perforation known as inverted-conical hopper which also presents signs of wear on its sides, but it is not as strong compared to the wear on the base. When the hopper was originally cut, it would have been circular in shape. However, due to the evidence of wear inside and the base edge of the hopper, the base opening has been worn to a almost triangle shape.

Overall, the height of the quern is c.175mm, and the diameter of the base is c.330mm. The diameter of the top opening of the hopper is c. 80mm, and the base opening of the hoppers diameter is c.90mm.

Mr. Chris Green has examined another quern stone like this which can be found on the PAS database under BH-C2EBDD, and has dated it between the mid-1st centuries BC to mid-1st century AD. Green (2017) also suggests that this type of quern stone was rather abundant during AD 1- 150, and were most likely used within the household.

References:

Green, C., (2017)" Querns and Millstones in Late Iron Age and Roman London and South-East England" In: D, Bird., (2017)Chapter 8: " Agriculture and Industry in South-Eastern Roman Britain" (pages 156-179)