EditorialRonda Reil, who inherited land in the Coachella Valley, leans on a metate, a rock once used by Native Americans to grind corn or beans to make flour, in Indio, Calif. on May 25, 2020. (Beth Coller/The New York Times)
Editorialpossibly Chiriqui, Precolumbian, possibly Costa Rican, Precolumbian, Metate in form of a Jaguar, no date, volcanic rock, Overall: 2 5/8 ? 9 1/4 ? 4 1/2 inches (6.7 ? 23.5 ? 11.4 cm).
EditorialMetate, 1200-1500. Costa Rica, Guanacaste, northwest coast, 13th-15th century. Gray volcanic stone; overall: 26.7 x 54.6 x 26.7 cm (10 1/2 x 21 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.).
EditorialMiniature Stone Metate, 1st?8th century, Mexico, Mesoamerica, Guerrero, Balsas River region, Mezcala, Stone, H. 2 13/16 x W. 2 1/8 in. (7.1 x 5.4 cm), Stone-Implements.
EditorialFlying Panel Metate, 1st?5th century, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, Stone, H. 28 15/16 W. x 18 1/4 x D. 19 in. (73.6 x 46.4 x 48.3cm), Stone-Implements.
EditorialCeremonial Metate, 4th?8th century, Costa Rica, Guanacaste-Nicoya, Stone, H. 8 15/16 x W. 8 3/4 x D. 17 1/4 in. (22.8 x 22.2 x 43.8 cm), Stone-Implements.
EditorialFlying Panel Metate, 1st?5th century, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, Stone, H.10 x W. 15 x D. 24 in. (25.4 x 38.1 x 61 cm), Stone-Implements, Metates, tablelike objects of stone used in ancient Mesoamerica for the grinding of foodstuffs such as corn, ...
EditorialCeremonial Metate, 10th?11th century, Honduras, Mesoamerica, Honduras; Maya (?), Diabase, H. 11 3/4 x W. 21 1/2 x L. 37 1/4 in. (29.8 x 21 1/2 x 94.6 cm), Stone-Implements, Metates as large and impressive as this are rare. Known examples come from nort...
EditorialCeremonial Metate, 4th?8th century, Costa Rica, Guanacaste-Nicoya, Stone, H. 20 1/8 x W. 10 in. (51.2 x 25.4 cm), Stone-Implements, Even today, stone metates in the Americas are used to grind maize and other foodstuffs. Certain ancient rituals must hav...
EditorialCeremonial Metate, 10th?11th century, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, Stone, H. 9 x Diam.14 3/4 in. (22.9 x 37.5 cm), Stone-Implements, Decorated metates carved of volcanic stone originated in the utilitarian forms that were used for grinding foodstuff...