Metate

In traditional Mesoamerican cultures, metates are typically used by women who would grind nixtamalized maize and other organic materials during food preparation (e.g., making tortillas).

[2] While varying in specific morphology, metates are typically made of a large stone with a smooth depression or bowl worn into the upper surface.

[4] Lesley Téllez describes the grinding action of a metate as using "your wrists to kind of rotate the metlapil forward, while at the same time pressing downward, hard, with the palms of your hands.

[3] Carved, volcanic-stone ceremonial metates represent one of the most unusual and complex traditions of pre-Columbian artifacts from Costa Rica.

This style comes from the Atlantic watershed region, including the City of Guayabo and represents a high level of craftsmanship and complexity.

The “flying panel” metate is believed to be the precursor to free standing sculptural figures more common later in the Atlantic watershed region.

The earliest traditions of stone sculpture in Costa Rica, including ceremonial metate, began in late Period IV (A.D. 1–500).

The three main types of Costa Rican stone sculpture at this time—tripod-metate, mace heads and jade “axe-god” pendants—peaked and declined in use during Period V (A.D. 500–1000).

These latter types often have carved human heads (or just suggestive notches) around the rim implying a relationship with ritual trophy-head taking.

Given their role as a burial good, it seems that metate held a strong meaning for human life, death and the hope for a rebirth or transformation of some kind.

Depicted as an anthropomorphic being with a crocodile head, he has been carved into fly-panel metates, sometimes shown standing on a double-headed saurian and other times on a jaguar.

These stylistic forms make sense for use in the small gold ornaments made with the lost-wax technique, but seem strange for use in carved stone.

First found in Costa Rica on Pavas and El Bosque-phase pottery, these are a common element in flying-panel metates, sometimes depicted with or pecking at human heads.

Metate, mano and corn, all circa 12th century AD, from Chaco Canyon , USA
Mano, metate and bowl of corn. Museum display of Ancestral Pueblo artifacts at Mesa Verde National Park .
A Costa Rican metate with bird iconography at the Birmingham Museum of Art .
A native American grinder stone tool or 'metate' from Central Mexico.
Metate and mano
Two items commonly used by indigenous Mexicans. The mortar is called a Metate and the stone lying across it a Mano. It is held in both hands and used to grind corn, cacao and other basic foods.