My work experience was principally based on granulometry because this factor is the second criterion of consideration after security. It represents a sound basis of study, it's also very varied according to flour type. So, it's thanks to this parameter that I could do the comparison of the two types of pestles.
Last validated or edited by kafetzou - 12 April 2007 14:37
I think they are complementary ("meule" and "broyeur". I had a look to a pdf file where it was explained that it is one of the oldest tools, "meule" was a flat stone on which people used to put some grains (or also other stuf) on this flat stone, then the "broyeur" was a cobble-stone used to crush the grains on the "meule", by grinding, in order to obtain a flour, or any pulverized stuff (according to what they crushed)
The oldest "meules" and "broyeurs" found were made at the late neanderthal era...
It appears the "broyeur" is a "pestle" in English; a grindstone is a wheel that grinds on its face. A millstone is a grindstone driven by a mill. Grinding and crushing are not the same action. A pestle can grind or crush.