The quern, sometimes referred to as a hand mill, consists of two flat stones with grooved surfaces.  The stones were moved in a circular fashion by a hand-held peg while dried grain was poured into a large opening in the top of the stone.  The ground meal was then collected on a sheet or skin as it spilled out the side of the quern.  Smaller verions were used to grind herbs, as well as tobacco.  -  information provided by Laurie Stanley-Blackwell