Present Use and Production of Metates and Molcajetes in Turícuaro (Michoacán, Mexico): Deciphering the Evolution of Food Preparation Practices

Overview & Synopsis

In Central America, maize processing for the production of tortillas bears a strong cultural connotation of the preservation of cultural traditions. The METATE project aims to explore the long-term history, from Prehispanic times until today, of the production and use of grinding stone tools (metates and molcajetes) on the slopes of the El Metate volcano (Michoacán, Central Mexico). It has been approached through a multidisciplinary program including volcanology, archaeology, and anthropology. The village of Turícuaro has been recognized for centuries as a major center of metate production for the entire Purépecha region in Michoacán. According to the few remaining craftsmen who make metates (metateros) in the village of Turícuaro, the quality of the rock selected and the organization of metate production have undergone significant changes during recent decades. We discuss how the introduction of new mechanical and electronic devices has generated important social consequences at the domestic, village, and regional scales.