Jaguar Grinding Stone

Grinding Stone

Grinding stone

Slab and grinder

Effigy Metate (Grinding Stone)

Ceremonial Grinding Table (Metate) in the Form of a Feline

Sa-ese Grinding Grain

Senenu Grinding Grain

Miniature Metate

Grinding Stone or Mano

Toy Stone for Grinding Grain

Ceremonial Grinding Table (Metate)

Ceremonial Metate

Mortar

Grinding Stone: Part of Handmill

Miniature Stone Metate

Metate

Flying Panel Metate

Metate or Stool

Dish

Ceremonial Grinding Table (Metate) in the Form of a Jaguar

<p>Grinding stones have been used for food preparation and ritualistic purposes across many cultures and throughout the centuries. This collection offers a few ancient examples from different cultures, but largely includes metates from Mesoamerica. Metate, the common name for grinding stones originating in ancient Central America, utilize a horizontal grinding motion using a handheld tool called a mano. The smooth depression in each grinding stone reveals the repetition of the human hand in its efforts to prepare the sustenance of maize, spices, and other grains. Metates were also used for ceremonial purposes, to represent the labor and reverence invested in the creation of human nourishment. This is why metate often included carvings of animals as symbols of shamans in their animal spirit form, as well as of rulers and other religious officials. Some metates in Costa Rica served as seats for rulers, reminding them of their responsibility to facilitate an abundant harvest for their people.</p>

Grinding Stones and Metates

Grinding Stones and Metates

Acerca de esta colección

Componga una colección seleccionada.