Grinding Stone Maker © Marilyn Anderson
The carver from San Luis Jilotepeque is finishing the rounded oblong part (mano) used in conjunction with the stone metate to grind corn for the dough (masa) to make tortillas, tamales and corn drinks. In many Guatemalan towns and villages, mechanized corn grinders have replaced (metates) but many families still keep one in their homes to further grind the masa processed in the electric machine. All over the world, for thousands of years, people have used a variety of grinding stones.