Mortar and pestle

Museum number:
1-157716a,b
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm2101157716a@2cb
Accession number:
Acc.2036
Description:
(a) Mortar of volcanic stone. (b) Granite pestle.
Donor:
David Wayne Peri
Collection place:
Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, California
Verbatim coll. place:
California; Northern California; Bodega Bay
Culture or time period:
Coast Miwok
Collector:
David Wayne Peri
Collection date:
ca. 1950
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Ground stone, Mortars (grinding tools), and Pestles
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1965
Context of use:
This mortar is used primarily for grinding native tobacco, angelica root, laurel leaves, etc. Seeds and berries are also used. Pigments used for paint may be ground in this mortar, but NOT very often. Quartz crystal "dust" is ground in this
Department:
Native California (archaeology and ethnology)
Dimensions:
(a)— width 11.7 centimeters and (b)— length 11.4 centimeters
Comment:
Mortars and pestles are washed in sea water (only) before they are used, and both are "steamed" over angelica and laurel (California bay) before they are used in preparation of materials for curing. The "steaming" removes any contamination due to contact with a previous patient. Coast Miwok Singing Doctors usually own two mortars, one for paint pigments and the other for roots, berries, seeds, etc. 1-157472-157500 and 1-157713-16 comprise outfit of Thomas Smith; outfit was family heirloom. See accession envelope for additional information. Both are archaeological.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Mortar and pestle, accession number 1-157716a,b, described as (a) Mortar of volcanic stone. (b) Granite pestle.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Mortar and pestle, accession number 1-157716a,b, described as (a) Mortar of volcanic stone. (b) Granite pestle.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Mortar and pestle, accession number 1-157716a,b, described as (a) Mortar of volcanic stone. (b) Granite pestle.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Mortar and pestle, accession number 1-157716a,b, described as (a) Mortar of volcanic stone. (b) Granite pestle.

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