Find Spot record MDO2501 - Quern stone found at Stinsford

A saddle quern of pinkish sandstone was found in 1973 at the base of a field boundary. Though presumably moved to the field boundary in the course of recent agricultural activity, this find suggests a settlement in the near vicinity.

A sandstone saddle-quern was found half buried at the base of a boundary hedge at SY 69959198, in 1973. It is 10.0ins long, 6.25ins wide and 4.75ins high, and of the same type as those found at Maiden Castle (SY68NE7) in a Neolithic and Iron Age 'A' horizon. In the possession of Mr P.F Williams. <1>

National Record of the Historic Environment, 453561 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1974, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1973, 102 (Serial). SDO73.

‘A Saddle-Quern from Stinsford.
Mr. P. F. Williams writes “Further to the report on Mesolithic and Beaker artefacts from Charminster and Stinsford parishes (Proceedings, 94, p.87) a saddle-quern of medium-grained sandstone of ‘pinkish’ colouration was found half buried at the base of the hedge on the southern boundary of the pasture field at SY 69969198 in the summer of 1973. It was presumably from a camping or more permanent habitation site in the near vicinity but removed hither as a result of modern farming operations. The help of Mr. J. F. Cowley of County Hall is acknowledged in identifying the stone. The quern remains at present with the writer.”
Mr. Williams gives dimensions as length 10 ins., width 6.25 ins., height 4.75 ins., and provides sketches which will be deposited in the County Museum with other papers relating to this report. Meanwhile we may note that querns of this type were found at Maiden Castle in both Neolithic and Iron Age ‘A’ horizons.’

Record last edited

Nov 2 2023 2:45PM