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SADDLE QUERN
Unique ID: CAM-6434DD
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A flint saddle quern or polissoir of Neolithic to Iron Age date (c.4500 BC to AD 43). This quern stone is sub-rectangular in shape with one corner having an approximately 90 degree angle. Depending on its original shape which is uncertain, it might have originally been an irregular shape, it is either complete or possibly mostly complete with some loss from one corner and/or an edge or two. The artefact has a length of 345.0mm. It has a maximum width of 175.0mm, averages a width of 160.0mm and is less than c.100.0mm at its narrowest end. The upper surface has been pecked but then worn smooth and flat. However, the flattened surface has a shallow concave curved depression indicating that the grinding took place backwards and forwards on the length axis. Almost all of the lower surface retains cortex and undulates giving the saddle quern a varying thickness. The maximum thickness is c.70.0mm and the thinnest areas are c.60.0mm. Weight is 7400.0g.
Viewing the artefact in profile, the length axis appears as a sub-'D' shaped to shallow 'B' shaped cross-section. The cross-section of the width axis ranges from sub-rectangular to triangular.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: NEOLITHIC
Period from: NEOLITHIC
Period to: IRON AGE
Date from: Circa 4500 BC
Date to: Circa AD 43
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 345 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 70 mm
Weight: 7400 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st January 2018 - Sunday 1st March 2020
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cambridgeshire (County)
District: East Cambridgeshire (District)
Parish or ward: Thetford (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TL5475
Four figure Latitude: 52.35144157
Four figure longitude: 0.25965143
1:25K map: TL5475
1:10K map: TL57NW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
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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