The distribution and lithology of beehive querns in northeast Yorkshire

Abstract

Data have been assembled on distribution, type, lithology, size, shape, quality of sculpture and dating of some 120 beehive querns and bases in northeast Yorkshire. Forty-three others have been previously recorded in the area, but are now lost. Except for a few pierced (Hunsbury) type querns, the topstones are of the simple unpierced type, that is, within wide limits, hemispherical with horizontal handle hole unconnected to the central hopper and feed-pipe. Forty-six are made of local unfossiliferous sandstones, 30 of Crinoid Grit and six from Moor Grit, all from the Middle Jurassic rocks of the North Yorkshire Moors; nine from the Corallian in the Tabular Hills south of the moors; 20 of Millstone Grit and four of Yoredale sandstone from the Pennines; one of Shap Granite and one of an unidentified granitic glacial erratic. There is little correlation between lithology, size, shape and workmanship. The distribution of the lithological types is related to their suitability for milling, and to their distances from their local sources (including three quern factories) or from the Pennines. The overall distribution corresponds closely with that of present-day agricultural land and very few have been found on the moorland hills. Close dating of their introduction in the later part of the Iron Age and of their obsolescence in the Roman period is not yet possible. The widespread adoption of these querns is seen as reflecting an intensification of agriculture on the low ground and Tabular Hills at these times, and this is supported by evidence from excavations, field and aerial archaeology, place-name and palaeobotany studies.