Neolithic peoples are the first known to use stones such as this to grind seed and grain into flower. The lower, stationary, stone is a quern. A pitted grinding surface is a required quern characteristic and this one has that, I cannot see how a rounded, unstable bottom, is helpful. The upper, called a handstone, well polished from use.

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Click me for the next post in this series, “Humble and Worn.”

Click Me for the first post in this series, “Iquique by Sea I.”

References

Wikipedia: “quern” and “metate.”

Websites

Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works World Heritage page

The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works site (Chile), removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger/

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