Metate Mexico XII-xiii

A pre-Columbian Mixtec basalt metate, or millstone. A metate is a stone millstone, used for domestic purposes, for grinding grains. It has been used for thousands of years (since at least 3000 BC) in the Mesoamerican cultural area. In traditional Mesoamerican cultures, metates are generally used by women to grind lime-treated corn and other organic materials during food preparation (for example, making tortillas). The use of the metate is exclusively female, and in Mixtec country, the area where the millstone is located is a space reserved for women. A couple acquires, or is often given, a millstone when establishing their household. This acquisition represents a major expense in the life of a Mixtec peasant, as evidenced by the wills of nobles and wealthy peasants from the 16th to the 18th centuries, which included metates.