SRAC Presents: Native Indian Stone Tools

Mortars and Pestles

Mortars and pestles come in many sizes.  They were used to grind corn, seeds and nuts into meal. A mortar is like a bowl and a pestle is a blunt stick or stone you hold to push or pound the seeds or nuts in the mortar. The Indians used this meal much like we use flour today. They mixed it with water and made bread with it. This was probably flat bread. In fact corn tortillas are an ancient form of American Indian bread.

Mortars and Pestles             © Copyright Susquehanna River Archaeological Center of Native Indian Studies