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SADDLE QUERN
Unique ID: HESH-337BE8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A large but fragmentary section of a saddle quern or polissoir of potential prehistoric date (Neolithic - Iron Age 4000 BC - 250 BC). The fragment is incomplete but has a steeply sloping sides with a wide shallow central grinding space. In cross section it is V shaped. The stone is a mica rich sandstone which has spalled in places. The external edges are all worn and abraded. None of the original external edges are present. The function of the stone is unclear - it is most likely to be a saddle quern for grinding grain - although it could equally be a grinding stone or polissoir for shaping stone axes. The find was made within the same area as a later Neolithic axe hammer. A direct parallel has not been found.
The quern measures approximately 45 cm in length and is 20cm wide. it stands approximately 15 cm high.
Notes:
This find has been reported during lockdown and recorded from notes and emailed images kindly supplied by local archaeologist Mike Greene.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: NEOLITHIC
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: IRON AGE
Date from: Circa 4000 BC
Date to: Circa 250 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Stone
Manufacture method: Ground/polished
Completeness: Incomplete
Spatial metadata
Region: West Midlands (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Shropshire (Unitary Authority)
District: Shropshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Chirbury with Brompton (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SO3198
Four figure Latitude: 52.5754211
Four figure longitude: -3.01961327
1:25K map: SO3198
1:10K map: SO39NW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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