Querns and mills during Roman times at the northern frontier of the Roman Empire (Belgium, Northern France, Southern Netherlands, Western Germany): Unraveling geological and geographical provenances, a multidisciplinary research project

A multidisciplinary analysis of querns and millstones from the northern Roman Empire (1st–4th century CE) reveals the exploitation of at least seven distinct rock types, including sedimentary and volcanic materials sourced from regions such as the Eifel area, Ardennes Massif, and Paris/Northern Sea Basin. Comparative petrographical, mineralogical, and geochemical techniques identified these raw materials, shedding light on their stratigraphic origins and distribution patterns. The study also highlights diversity in mill production (hand-mills vs. mechanical mills) and trade networks, offering new insights into the socio-economics of Gallo-Roman communities and their integration within the Roman Empire's northern frontier.

Reniere, S., De Clercq, W., Dreesen, R., Goemaere, E., Fronteau, G., Gluhak, T., Hartoch, E., & Picavet, P. (2016). Querns and mills during Roman times at the northern frontier of the Roman Empire (Belgium, Northern France, Southern Netherlands, Western Germany): Unraveling geological and geographical provenances, a multidisciplinary research project. Journal of Lithic Studies, 3(3), 403–428. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v3i3.1640