Proposal:Millstone

The Feature Page for the approved proposal Tag:historic=millstone is located at Tag:historic=millstone

Millstone
Proposal status:	Approved (active)
Proposed by:	Mitsjol
Tagging:	historic=millstone Data item
Applies to:	node
Definition:	A large round stone used for grinding grain.
Statistics:
Rendered as:	A circular brown shape with a smaller circular hole in the center of the shape.
Draft started:	2023-09-22
RFC start:	2023-09-27
Vote start:	2023-11-15
Vote end:	2023-11-29

Proposal

I propose the addition of a new tag to represent historic or decommissioned millstones that remain in one place within the OpenStreetMap database. Millstones are typically large stone objects that were utilized in milling operations, including the grinding of grains, olives, and various other materials. They often have historical and cultural importance, making them valuable features to document on the map.

The proposed tag is as follows:

• historic=millstone

The proposed tag can be applied to nodes to mark the location of individual decommissioned millstones that have been in one location for an extended period of time. These millstones can be found in various locations, including museums, historical sites, parks, farms or in the vicinity of their original settings. By adding this tag, we aim to enrich the historical and cultural data available within OpenStreetMap.

Alternatively, man_made=millstone could be used with an optional historic=yes tag. However, I recommend the use of the historic=millstone tag, as it is more accurate and appropriate for the majority of millstones on the map. This tag primarily aims to document millstones that have remained in one location for an extended period, often indicating historical significance.

Rationale

The addition of the historic=millstone tag will be used to represent millstones on OpenStreetMap, particularly in regions with a history of milling. Currently, there is no dedicated tag to distinguish millstones from other stone objects or artifacts, leaving a gap in our ability to document these historical assets.

By introducing the historic=millstone tag, we address this gap and provide mappers with a way to mark the presence of millstones. This tagging scheme aligns with our commitment to preserving and sharing historical and cultural data on OpenStreetMap.

Another reason I want to propose this tag is the quantity. I have personally seen multiple millstones in the Netherlands and have encountered them during travels to various countries. In the UK, the Peak District alone is estimated to have around 1,500 millstones scattered throughout its landscape.

This addition will enrich the historical and cultural data available on OpenStreetMap and serve as a resource for historians, tourists and enthusiasts interested in exploring the history of milling and its significance in different regions.

Tagging

Create a node and add historic=millstone

Optional tags

• name=* - The name of the millstone.
• diameter=* - The diameter of the millstone.
• width=* - The width of the millstone.
• material=* - The material the millstone is made from.
• description=* - A brief description or historical information about the millstone.
• inscription=* - Information about any inscriptions, markings, or carvings on the millstone.
• start_date=* - The date when the millstone was placed.
• heritage=yes,no - Indicates whether the millstone has heritage status.
• tourism=attraction - If the millstone is a tourist attraction.
• image=* - Link to a photo of the millstone.
• wikidata=* - The Wikidata ID associated with the millstone, if available.

Vicinity

• tourism=information, for a sign containing information about the millstone, if present.

Similar/Relevant tags

• man_made=windmill
• historic=memorial
• historic=stone
• natural=stone
• historic=archaeological_site
• craft=grinding_mill
• industrial=grinding_mill

Windmills

This tag will not be applied to millstones that are part of windmills, as they are integrated into the mill structure. Currently man_made=windmill has windmill:vanes=yes/no if the windmill vanes (or sails) still exists. Perhaps an additional windmill:millstone=yes/no can be introduced to indicate whether a windmill still has a millstone.

Examples

• 

  Kearney Village, Ireland

• 

  Culhuacán, Mexico

• 

  Dachtmissen, Germany

• 

  Nakano, Tokyo, Japan

• 

  Peak District, UK

For reference, you can explore numerous examples of millstones found around the world in the Millstones and Millstone by country categories on Wikimedia Commons.

Other:

• Flickr millstone group (use geo tags to locate millstones)

Features/Pages affected

Info about this tag could be added to:

• man_made=windmill
• historic=stone
• historic=archaeological_site

Relevant external links

• Millstone on Wikipedia
• Millstone on Wikidata

Comments

Please comment on the discussion page.

Voting

Voting closed

Voting on this proposal has been closed.

It was approved with 14 votes for and 1 vote against.

• I approve this proposal. Clear tag where current tagging is all over the place --Spaanse (talk) 12:07, 15 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --InsertUser (talk) 18:10, 15 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. -- Something B (talk) 23:01, 15 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Mannivu (talk) 17:30, 16 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Ivanbranco (talk) 17:47, 16 November 2023 (UTC)
• I oppose this proposal. Not all millstone as 'historic', many are old but that does not mean they are historic. Warin61 (talk) 09:56, 17 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --快乐的老鼠宝宝 (talk) 11:53, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

(Reply to above @Warin61:)Yes, not all millstone is historic, but most of them are. For those millstone that still can be used, what about use "amenity=millstone"? (And historic=* for those damaged or unusable) A few decades ago, electric grinders were not yet popular in my area. There were still millstones ("碾") used, but they were probably made close to a hundred years ago (it still can be made in modern times, but no one uses it, except for museum technicians can made) --快乐的老鼠宝宝 (talk) 11:53, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

• I approve this proposal. --OSMRogerWilco (talk) 13:25, 19 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Gendy54 (talk) 19:40, 19 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Makiwolf (talk) 22:49, 19 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --EneaSuper (talk) 08:20, 21 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. historic tag isn't great for these, but we already use it, e.g. historic=anchor --HellMap (talk) 09:54, 21 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Shaun das Schaf (talk) 10:38, 25 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --TheBlackMan (talk) 20:59, 25 November 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Rskedgell (talk) 12:39, 30 November 2023 (UTC)