Observations on the grinding process at pre- and protohistoric grain mills

Abstract

Research into the grinding processes on prehistoric and early historic mills of all types, from the grinding plates to the functioning turning mill, does not yet meet the requirements. Neither the grinding plates with the handles could be brought into a meaningful context, nor could a well-functioning rotary mill be reconstructed and tested in its grinding action. The seemingly secure swivel mill construction by PFEIFFER (147, Fig. 292) was doubted by v. STOKAR (91) for reasons of grinding technology. The reconstructions presented in Polish literature (SZAFRANSKI, 143 ff.) based on models by NASZ are not satisfactory because no wooden finds form the basis for the reconstruction of such a revolving mill. The reconstructed wooden mechanism, which was devised for the purpose of making the millstones of Biskupin functional, remains a doubtful theory as long as such an apparatus has not been built and practically tested. New investigations of prehistoric and early historic stone mills as well as valuable new finds of Stone Age and Metal Age millstones (LIES, 287 ff.) allow us to present some new observations.