Millstone

Millstone is the tool which proves Kazakhs’ active involvement in farming in ancient time. No one knows the exact date of appearance of the millstone, which was used by our ancestors for grinding grain, wheat or other cereals and making bread.

Millstone is a pair of two flat stones put over each other. The bottom stone remains stable and does not move. The upper stone has a hole through which grain or other cereal is poured. By rotating the upper stone grain is grinded. The obtained flour is sifted.

Kazakh people used to keep the millstone carefully, like shanyrak (main backbone part of the yurt, national dwelling of the Kazakhs) and besik (cradle).