An intact Hunsbury type quern from Willington, Bedfordshire, UK

Abstract

The upper and lower stones of a ‘Hunsbury Type’ bi-conical rotary quern were recovered in situ from a prehistoric palaeochannel investigated during archaeological excavations carried out at Willington Quarry, Bedfordshire in 2014. Attached to the upper stone was an unusual notched wooden handle, broken off during machining; the root of which still remained within the socket hole. Projecting from the axle socket of the lower stone was an iron spindle, subsequently removed and examined. An initial study of the wear pattern on the grinding surfaces of the stones would seem to imply the use of an oscillatory or reciprocal motion in milling rather than full rotation – an observation suggested also by the design of the wooden handle. The quern is made of Millstone Grit – its lithology indicating a probable Southern Pennine source. The survival of this artefact, in such good condition, may be a unique find for the British Iron Age.