à la poutre

10:33 Mar 22, 2011 

This is interesting. I guess the clue is in "deux polissoirs fixes" - what is unusual about these polissoirs is that they are fixed to something (the "poutre") rather than being handheld.

21:20 Mar 21, 2011 

Sorry for the delay in adding more context - I have been away from my computer today (gasp!) Here is the complete sentence: "La découverte de deux polissoirs fixes à Montgaroult atteste vraisemblablement d’une aide mécanique (rainures/grooves longues, rectilignes et profondes) qui permettait éventuellement le polissage de plusieurs haches en même temps (« à la poutre » ?) dans un intervalle de temps limité."

13:06 Mar 21, 2011 

Hi Jane, we're all relying on your interpretation here: could you give us a bit more text, perhaps the preceding and following sentences?

10:46 Mar 21, 2011 

10:45 Mar 21, 2011 

On parle peut-être de la manière dont étaient actionnées les meules (à affûter ou à moudre). Sous le lien ci-dessous, on peut voir quelques systèmes traditionnels où les poutres (verticales ou horizontales actionnant des meules tournantes sur une meule-socle dormante), entrent en jeu. Je ne sais pas si cela correspond à la période qui vous intéresse. En tout cas, j'ai vu qu'on parle encore de poutres d'entraînement dans les machines contemporaines.

10:33 Mar 21, 2011 

"à la poudre" ? I'm guessing that the guillemets make it less likely, but perhaps just worth ruling it out if you're otherwise drawing a blank.

10:22 Mar 21, 2011 

The term "polssoir" is a standard archaeological term in English. It has a clear description in my Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology, and I have seen it used. It may well be the best option here. If you like I will post it, to see if others knowledgeable in the field can confirm.

10:11 Mar 21, 2011 

It is something like you describe. The dictionary gives as possible synonym also 'polissoir'. I gather that it is a kind of stone, metal or wooden object used to grind things like grain, but possibly also used for sharpening knives and such. I am not sure how to translate it though. You could opt for leaving it out altogether as it doesn't really make a difference in English.

09:24 Mar 21, 2011 

I wonder if this is a kind of coarse stone with depressions and/or grooves used for grinding axes. They are known in archaeology by the French name "polissoir". I've not come across the term "à la poutre" before in this context, however.