Mill and grinding stone

Cova de l´Or (Alcoi, Alacant)

Sexual division of labour

From the skeletons found in tombs and necropoleis, we are able to determine the sex and age of the people buried there, as well as their diet, state of health, illnesses and muscular effort made. It has therefore been possible to identify wear on the bones of the hand, knees and feet in female skeletons. This type of physical wear is caused by the continual action of grinding cereals in saddle querns to make flour. Therefore, it is possible to assign the processing of cereals through grinding to women. This work was extremely important for such groups, as it provided a basic element of their everyday diet.