Threshing

Threshing is the process of separating the grain from the straw. This was done using a threshing board, or by having animals walk over the grain. The place where threshing took place was called the threshing floor.

The threshing board was a wide wooden plank, or a number of planks attached to each other. Small holes had been made in the bottom of the plank into which sharp stones or pieces of metal were fitted.

When threshing, the board was pulled over the straw by a donkey or an ox. Often the farmer would sit or stand on the threshing board himself to make it press down even harder on the straw. By pulling the sharp stones or pieces of metal over the straw, the grains were cut loose from the stalks and separated from the chaff. At the same time the straw, the left-over stalks, was cut into pieces.

The threshing floor was a flat round space of around 22 to 39 feet (about 6,7-11,8 m) in diameter. The ground consisted of rock or firmly stamped down earth. Often stones were placed around the edge of the threshing floor, to prevent the grains from falling outside of the threshing floor.

The threshing floor was usually located close to the field, preferably slightly higher up, where there was plenty of wind, which was needed for winnowing.