Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: HESH-FFCB4A
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A small millstone or large rotary quern stone of uncertain date (Late Iron Age - Medieval) however, possibly thought to be a later medieval date (AD 1250-1600). The stone is incomplete being broadly oval in plan and D shaped in cross section. Significant stone is lost around the edges due to fracturing possibly through heat (there are blackened sooted marks in places) or frost action. The upper surface has a rough pecked surface; this has been created by cold chisel working creating a rough and regular pattern. This working extends into the central hole which is oval in shape. The hole measures 8cm length and 9 cm width. The underside of the stone is smooth and has a polished surface through repeated wear. / use
The stone that forms the millstone is local to South Shropshire. It has been identified by Prof Michael Rosenbaum as being a coarse 'Cornbrook sandstone' which was laid down in the Upper Devonian 400,000,000 years and 350,000,000 years ago and underlying the carboniferous coal measure deposits. This stone is allied to the Millstone grits (although it tends to be more friable) . Exposures of Cornbrook sandstone are relatively common on Clee Hill and therefore it is likely to come from a 'day working' site nearby. Importantly, there is no evidence for the use of this stone in the medieval archaeological record and therefore suggests that the resource was probably only used infrequently and its distribution extends locally. The findspot falls within the area where exposures of Cornbrook sandstone is most common.
The millstone measures 46cm length, 42 cm width and is 12.5cm thick. It was too heavy to weigh accurately - an estimate of its weight was approximately 15-20 kilograms.
Thanks are extended to Prof Rosenbaum for his help in identifying the stone and additional information he provided - a useful summary of the geology of this area can be seen in his online paper with Prof Brian Wilkinson - published by Shropshire Geological Society:
16-4-2021:
Additional Information from John Cruise - archaeological specialist in querns and millstones, Coordinator of the Yorkshire Quern Survey, a project of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society
From sight of the photos and descriptions the following points are suggested:
This is a find of note and has been designated: County / local importance
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: IRON AGE
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa 300 BC
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 1
Length: 460 mm
Height: 12.5 mm
Width: 420 mm
Weight: 15000 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: Shropshire Museum Service; Object Entry Form: E. 01719
Primary material: Stone
Manufacture method: Hand made
Completeness: Incomplete
4 Figure: SO5874
Four figure Latitude: 52.36243539
Four figure longitude: -2.61819664
1:25K map: SO5874
1:10K map: SO57SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.