Grinding Stone
- Period
- Historical
- Date
- 2025-08-07
- Materials
- Stone
- Dimensions
- H-34cm, L-14.5cm, W.-12cm
- Site
- Godawaya Shipwreck
- Location
- Gallery 01
- Inventory
- 2024/SL/S/GDV/M/002/007
Full Description
It is made from the metamorphic rock known as gneiss. The quartz content is high, and it has a predominantly yellowish color. Iron pyrite (fool’s gold) is present in very small amounts.
Historical Context
The grinding stones and hand stones found on the Godawaya ship are evidence of their importance as trade items in maritime trade (ancient Indian Ocean networks) around 2000 BC. Among the discoveredgrinding stones and hand stones, approximately five matched pairs can be identified, suggesting that these items were specifically used for grinding purposes. They also highlight Sri Lanka’s role as a hub for maritime trade and reveal the cultural, local, and economic value of grinding technology in ancient times.
