QUERNSTONES Rathdown : Wicklow's ancient heartland
Quernstones were used to achieve this crushing. They became widespread during the Neolithic Period (5,500 2,500 BC ). The earliest known quern is from 9,000 BC (Syria). The lower fixed concave stone was the bedstone or quern. The upper, handheld, moveable stone was called the rubber or handstone. This was moved back and forward over the ...