Recent research conducted by scholars from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has uncovered new insights into the symbolic importance of hand-held grinding tools used by the earliest Neolithic societies in Europe. These tools, essential for processing cereals, appear to have been deeply embedded in cultural and ritual practices, particularly those associated with women, time, and the natural cycles of life, death, and renewal. This finding emerges from an analysis of deposits found at three ritual sites in Germany, revealing that these grinding stones were not merely functional tools but also significant cultural objects tied to the lifecycle of both individuals and communities.
The three sites in question, located in Goseck (Saxony-Anhalt) and Sömmerda (Thuringia), belong to the Linear Pottery culture, which flourished between 4900 and 4650 BC in Central Europe. The Goseck site is particularly noteworthy, as it is one of the oldest known ritual sites in Europe. The deposits at these locations contained fourteen sets of grinding tools, each of which was examined for its technical, functional, and morphological characteristics. Researchers also carefully studied the arrangement and orientation of the tools within the deposits, aiming to understand their symbolic significance.
The grinding stones were found in various conditions—some were nearly new, others showed signs of moderate use, and some were heavily worn. This variation in wear suggests that the grinding tools were selected with great care, reflecting a deep cultural importance. What stood out most in the study was the careful placement of the grinding stones. The tools were found in pairs, with their working surfaces facing each other and oriented from east to west. Additionally, the materials used to create the tools were often sourced from places distant from the sites, indicating a significant investment of time and effort in their production. This deliberate attention to detail points to the high social value attributed to these objects, suggesting that they held symbolic meaning beyond their practical utility.
The researchers argue that these grinding tools were not just tools for grinding cereal, but artifacts that represented the cyclical nature of life itself. As Erik Zamzow, a doctoral researcher at the UAB and lead author of the study, explains, the notion at the heart of these tools’ “biography” is time—a concept encapsulated in the stages of production, use, and eventual burial. This cycle mirrors the broader human experience of birth, life, and death, and it is particularly significant when viewed through the lens of women’s roles in Neolithic societies. Women were likely the primary users of these tools, and their use could have symbolized the passage of time, not just in the agricultural cycle but also in the human life cycle.
The daily use and maintenance of these grinding stones would have been part of the essential work of women in the Linear Pottery culture. Grinding cereals was a routine, physically demanding task, and the wear on these tools likely represented the stages of a woman’s life. The choice of tools—ranging from new to worn-out—could symbolize the life stages of the women who used them, from youth to old age, as well as the continuity of these practices through generations. In this way, the grinding stones acted as symbols of fertility, productivity, and the cyclical nature of existence. These items, then, were not simply tools for the practical task of grinding grain but embodied a deeper, more profound relationship to time, birth, life, and death.
The researchers suggest that these ritual deposits also reflect the migration patterns of Neolithic communities, who tended to move frequently and often abandoned their settlements after a few generations. The placement of the grinding stones in these deposits could, therefore, symbolize the broader life cycle of the community itself—birth, settlement, and eventual abandonment, perhaps echoing the way these tools would have been used by women throughout their lifetimes. The burial of these objects may have been an act of honoring not only the women who used them but also the life cycle of the community at large. This ritual could have marked the end of an era, with the community acknowledging the passage of time and the need to move on to new places and new phases of life.
The symbolism of these grinding tools extends beyond the rhythm of the agricultural year, which has been a common interpretation in previous studies. The researchers believe that the deposits convey a more nuanced and complex understanding of time. Instead of simply marking the passage of seasons or agricultural cycles, these rituals likely embodied the personal and collective experiences of Neolithic women. Just as grinding stones were tools shaped and worn by years of use, so too were the lives of the women who used them—shaped by time, labor, and the cycles of birth, growth, and death.
The study emphasizes the importance of viewing these tools through a “biographical” lens, considering not only their physical and functional characteristics but also their symbolic meanings. According to Roberto Risch, another researcher from UAB and co-author of the study, the deposits found at these sites reflect a multifaceted understanding of time. The researchers believe that future studies using this methodology could shed more light on the deeper meanings embedded in these ancient tools. The study also highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between human life and the tools we use, showing how these objects were integral not just to daily life but to the very fabric of Neolithic ideology.
The research also adds an important layer to previous studies that have attempted to decode the symbolism of these deposits. Many earlier studies have connected these objects to fertility, agricultural cycles, and seasonal rhythms, but the current research places a greater emphasis on the life trajectories of the women who used the grinding stones. The tools, then, are seen not just as symbols of harvests or rituals of fertility but as metaphors for the lifespan of women, from birth to old age, and as markers of life’s cyclical nature. This perspective offers a new and insightful way to interpret the symbolism of the Linear Pottery culture, which had long been understood primarily through agricultural and seasonal lenses.
In addition to the findings in Germany, the researchers note that similar grinding tool deposits have been found in other parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, and other regions of Central Europe. Although there are differences in the deposits found in various locations, the researchers suggest that these patterns reflect shared cultural practices across Neolithic communities. To date, 20 such deposits have been discovered, containing a total of 89 tools, all of which are attributed to 13 settlements or ritual enclosures. These objects serve as a testament to the intricate and multifaceted worldview of the early European agricultural societies.
The study of these grinding stones offers a valuable glimpse into the lives of Neolithic women, revealing how their daily tasks, rituals, and beliefs were intertwined with the natural cycles of the world around them. By carefully examining the way these tools were made, used, and ultimately buried, researchers are uncovering the rich symbolic world of early agricultural societies. The grinding stones were not merely functional items; they were deeply embedded in the social, cultural, and spiritual life of the communities that produced them.
As the researchers suggest, future studies incorporating this methodology could provide even deeper insights into the lives of Neolithic people, particularly the women who played such a vital role in sustaining their communities. By understanding the symbolic meaning of these tools, we gain a richer understanding of how early societies perceived time, life, and death, and how these perceptions were reflected in their material culture. The ritualized burial of grinding stones thus offers a poignant reminder of the ways in which objects can embody the cyclical nature of human existence and the profound connections between people, their tools, and the world around them.
More information: Erik Zamzow et al, Grinding Stone Deposits of the Linear Pottery Culture in Central Germany, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.104998