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The quernstone, which is 87cm (35”) long and 60cm (24”) wide, is estimated to weigh over 200 kilograms (441 pounds) and was used by ancient farmers to grind corn. Saddle quernstones were one of the most important tools in the house, after the fire, with both practical and symbolic aspects. Dr Gee said finding the saddle quernstone “was just remarkable” and added that he finds it “amazing” that something like that, so ancient, could be found just below the plow line.
Now don’t for a second be thinking what’s all the fuss is about, for its “only a stone” after all. Saddle querns were one of the most important tools in the house, after the fire, and if you want to really get down to the nitty-gritty and want to know more about quern usage in the ancient world, and their symbolic aspects, you can watch my recent film explaining their uses just below.
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Earlier finds, including an arrow head and further pieces of broken vessel have suggested an Early Neolithic date (c3600-3200BC) for the Saverock settlement, meaning it pre-dates Skara Brae, Orkney’s best-known New Stone Age settlement by centuries.
Skara Brae was first occupied around 3,100 BC, it is believed.
Chris Gee, a project officers at University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, has been investigating the area since 2014.
He said he believed two early Neolithic houses may have stood at Saverock.
He said: “Finding the saddle quern was just remarkable. I find it amazing that something like that can be found just below the plough line.
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