Recent research on quern and millstone quarries in Majorca and Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

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2019Author
Sánchez Navarro, Joaquín
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Sánchez Navarro, Joaquín;
.
(2019)
.
Recent research on quern and millstone quarries in Majorca and Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain).
Revista d'arqueologia de Ponent, 2019, extra 4, p. 127-145.
https://doi.org/10.21001/rap.2019.extra-4.8.
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This paper presents the most recent research on querns and millstone quarries carried
out in the Balearic Islands of Minorca and Majorca (Spain) since the article published in the
proceedings of the Rome colloquium (Sánchez 2011). Twenty-five new extraction sites have been
identified (7 in Minorca and 18 in Majorca) raising the total to 64 for both islands. Certain
quarries produced thousands of rotary querns, whereas other smaller sites only produced a few.
The stones were meant either to grind grains for bread or for animal fodder. Others served the
olive oil industry. In Minorca, the querns and millstones were hewn from dune and reef rock
deposits. In Majorca, in addition these two types of rock deposits, millstone workings included
a variety of limestones, dolomites, sandstones, conglomerates and siliceous stones. Each new
site is described according to its lithology and origin (Quaternary eolianites, Pliocene Upper
Miocene Tertiary reefs and limestones from the Jurassic). Quarry dating is particularly difficult.
At times it can be deduced from comparison with millstones from archaeological excavations.
The recently identified modern chert workings in Majorca produced composite millstones in the
manner of imported French burrs. The pit quarries exploiting chert are very recent, dated by
texts and interviews with local residents. Their millstones served, depending on their quality,
to grind either grains for bread, cereals for animal fodder or calcined limestone for cement.
Note
Anderson, T.J., Alonso, N. (eds), Tilting at Mills: The Archaeology and Geology of Mills and Milling. Revista d’Arqueologia de Ponent. Número Extra 4, 2019. ISBN: 9788491440291Is part of
Revista d'arqueologia de Ponent, 2019, extra 4, p. 127-145European research projects
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