METATES. 27 



Chiriquian culture. While many of these are richly ornamented with biomorphic 

 motives, the specimen as a whole is not a complete zoomorphic unit. The shape 

 of the plate is also different, being flat in the direction of the transverse diameter 

 and concave longitudinally. It is also approximately rectangular in outline. 



The metates of Chiriqui are made of a volcanic rock, chiefly andesitic lava. 

 The diversity of form and finish led Holmes to suggest that the metates of Chiriqui 

 might " represent distinct peoples or different grades of culture." Nothing could 

 be more homogeneous than the large group representing the jaguar. That this 

 is genetically related to the more primitive types, there can be little question. 



Fig. 17. — Metate with three legs, and hand stone. V* 



The simplest kind of mealing stone is a flattened river boulder such as is still 

 in use among the Talamanca Indians of Costa Rica and Chiriqui. In order to 

 lessen the weight of the metate and render it more easily transportable, as much 

 as possible of the base was removed. This was accomplished in two ways, viz., 

 (1) by hollowing out the base and reducing its external dimensions; and (2) by 

 cutting away all but three points of contact — the smallest number that will give 

 stability. From the former were developed not only the zoomorphic types of 

 metate, but also the so-called stools. The tripod type was not further elaborated 

 in Chiriqui, but reached a high state of development in the province of Nicoya, 

 Costa Rica. Only two examples of this type are illustrated. The rubbing surface 

 of one of these (fig. 17) is an elongated oval and concave in the direction of both 

 its length and breadth. The rim is chipped away at the end over the unpaired 

 leg. One of the sub-cylindrical rubbing stones exactly fits this metate. Both are 

 of the same material, but unfortunately the collector's notes do not reveal whether 

 they were found together. The grinding surface of the other three-legged metate, 

 figure 18, is quite different in shape, being concave in the direction of its length 

 only and flat transversely, thus belonging very distinctly to the Nicoyan type. A 

 rim proper does not exist, but is suggested by an incised line near the margin. 

 The lateral margins are slightly concave, while the margins at the ends are 

 markedly convex. The under surface is left in the rough, and the three legs are 

 very short. This specimen is from Gualaca. 



The prototype of practically all the Chiriquian forms of metate as well as of 

 stool is to be found in figure 19. The shape of the top is intermediate between 

 oblong and oval. The dishing or hollowing out is very slight and the rim low. 

 The base is cut away on all sides and deeply excavated in the bottom, leaving 



