South-west France : "metate Wheel"

France, South-West: “Meule à main”, gray-green quartzite pebble from the Pyrenees, 31 X 8 X 5 cm, one end uneven. When I was sold this pebble, it was as a Neolithic axe, which was certainly plausible, but a closer examination made me lean towards another thesis: the grinding part that was rubbed on a metate to crush various seeds to extract flour, wheat, barley, corn or, in the Basque Country, cocoa beans to make chocolate since the 15th century when the Jews were expelled from Spain and then from Portugal by the decree of the 'Alhalbra of July 31, 1492 arrived in Bayonne bringing their receipts…. Do not hesitate to ask us for photos or additional information by email or telephone. Other photos and many other objects in our shops in Pau and Biarritz and on our website: galerielhoste.com.