The item is a mortar with three legs with a round raised rim and a center indicated pestle. The stone is basalt and is referred to as a molcajete from Mexico which are stone tools, the traditional Mexican version of the mortar and pestle, similar to the South American batan, used for grinding various food products. Molcajetes are used to crush and grind spices, and to prepare salsa and guacamole. The rough surface of the basalt stone creates a superb grinding surface of the basalt over time as tiny bubbles in the basalt are ground down, and replenishes the textured surface. The molcajete and pestle have had vigorous use, but are not ancient; ancient molcajetes would have had a deeper interior and a very pronounced rolled rim. Circa Mid 20th Century. Height4 inchesExtra NotesThe molcajete was used by pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures, including the Aztec and Mayan, stretching back thousands of years. They were traditionally carved out of a single block of vesicular basalt. Molcajetes are typically round in shape and supported by three short legs. In the pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican period, the molcajete had a lid and the set was believed to be used for burial of members in society of high status and were decorated with various colors and designs. The matching hand-held grinding tool, known as temolote is also made of the same basalt material