Hyllestad quernstone quarries

Italy

The Hyllestad quernstone quarries are located in Hyllestad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. They are the oldest and one of the largest production areas for quernstones and millstones in Norway with approximately 400 quarries identified. The natural condition for the quernstone and millstone

production in the area is the rock type garnet mica schist. The quarries are located from the shoreline up to an elevation of about 200 metres (660 ft) above sea level, but a majority of the quarries are situated less than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the sea and closest harbor. The quarries are well preserved, visible, and most of them are easily accessible. In the Viking period and the Middle Ages, quernstones were shaped and carved directly from the bedrock, and in several of the quarries unfinished quernstones and millstones are still attached to the rock. The large scale production has since Viking times led to severe changes of the landscape. Quarries and spoil heaps are so densely situated that the original topography is not visible anymore. Two harbors are also identified. Here, large amounts of quern and millstones as well as ballast stones are located on the sea bed, testifying to...

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