Grinding Installations in Pre- and Protohistoric Eurasia

The paper investigates grinding installations found across diverse archaeological sites in Eurasia, spanning from the Neolithic (10000-8800 BCE) to the Early Roman period (2nd century BC) in regions such as Georgia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Israel, and Moldova. The study employs typological, traceological, experimental and comparative analyses. A significant focus is on the interdisciplinary examination of an installation at Grakliani Gora, representing the first comprehensive study within Georgia’s territory. This study aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding the origin, types, and functions of grinding installations found at archaeological sites like Gesher, Ulucak H.yük, Varvarovka VIII, Branzeni III, Kodzadermen, Liga, Ilipinar, Shiqmim, Tel Rehov, Grakliani Gora, Tsikhiagora, and Dedoplis Gora. Notable shared characteristics include indoor placement, using clay in platform construction, surrounding walls to contain scattered flour and the incorporation of side recesses for the material being ground or the produced flour. These installations were constructed to enhance the efficacy of working devices, increase flour yield, and minimize physical strain during daily activities.