Hand mill

The two pieces that make up the sample, are part of an example of a manual mill, selected from a collection of about 30 stored in Baelo Claudia. The catillus or volandera (below) is the cylindrical moving part that rotates above the meta or gridstone (above). Manual rotation is achieved through a handle (which we see is the outer fitting in the stone (below). On the other hand the central fittings indicate the existence of lavija or the metal shaft, a system that maintains the catillus well-balanced on its rotation (below).

Above: Complete catillus of 37 cm. Diameter
Below: Complete meta slightly conical of 32 cm. diameter, with a lip of 2.5 cm and 4 cm deep

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Bibliography :

- Anderson, T. (2011): Los Molinos manuales del Conjunto Arqueológico de Baelo Claudia, Cádiz, (LARHAR-CNRS UMR 5190), original inédito depositado en el Conjunto Arqueológico de Baelo Claudia.