Metate

A ground-stone slab with a concave upper surface used as a lower millstone against which another stone is rubbed to grind vegetable material such as cereal grains, seeds, nuts, etc. A metate is one of a two-part milling apparatus - the other part being with a mano (handheld upper grindstone). Metates are found in agricultural and preagricultural contexts over much of the world and are often made of volcanic rock in Mesoamerica. It is a Spanish term for the smoothed, usually immobile, stone with a concave upper surface and is mostly associated with the grinding of maize. It is a hallmark artifact in the definition of prehistoric subsistence patterns.

The base and lower grinding surface of a two-part milling apparatus used in the preparation of plant food (the upper, movable part is the mano). Made from any suitably hard stone, it comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and is still used in many areas of the Americas. Mostly associated with the grinding of maize, it is a hallmark artefact in the definition of prehistoric subsistence patterns.