Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s16: Saddle Quern
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s16
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Saddle Quern
v1.c11.s16.1
That there was a great use of saddle-querns at Mohenjo-Daro is evident from the findings. This also indicates that agriculture must have been in a flourishing state at that place. Generally the querns are made of basalt, but in some cases grey granite was used. These are all very much worn, the depression in some cases being as much as 5" deep, so that only the end of a stone muller could have been used. The grain appears therefore to have been pounded rather than rubbed.
v1.c11.s16.2
The average size of those querns is 21" by 9". The mullers, one of which is lying on its quern, are usually natural pebbles averaging 11" long by 4" in diameter. Sometimes blocks of red sandstone or quartz were used as querns; and from the frequent irregularity of their bases one must suppose that these were intended to be partly sunk in the floor of the house or courtyard. The upper surface of a new quern was roughly dressed flat and then through extensive use was worn into a deep groove. None of the querns can be dated to any particular period by either their shape or the stone of which they are made, because these were found at all levels. (MS-II, 456).