By the first century C.E., Jews in Palestine were familiar with such a mill, for Jesus spoke of “a millstone such as is turned by an ass. ” ​ — Mark 9: 42.
Dzīvnieku grieztas dzirnavas plaši tika izmantotas senajā Romā un tās provincēs, un daudzas no tām vēl tagad var redzēt seno Pompeju drupās.