The Bulins of Noailles

Description

The finds we focus on are marked by number 14 which you can see in the center of the showcase i.e. the Noailles gravers. As mentioned earlier, during excavations of the Bilancino reservoir, these burins were found, which were precision tools made from a very hard siliceous sedimentary rock called red or gray flint. They were used to carve and fray the marsh grasses found in the area, especially cattail, which was used to weave and make mats and baskets. Most curious and noteworthy is that the roots of this marsh grass, dried and ground, gave rise to the oldest flour in history. In fact, a millstone with an associated pestle was found on which starch granules were preserved, testifying not only to the food use of the plants, but to an actual recipe for the preparation of a plant-based food.