Mujeres ch’orti’s y objetos de cocina. Biografías y significados sociales en la piedra de moler y el comal

Abstract

For Ch´orti´ women there are two very important objects that characterize their life cycle as well as those of their family and their people: the comal and the metate (grinding stone). The preparation of maize tortillas is performed with these two tools. The comal has a circular surface of approximately one metre that serves for toasting the tortillas. It is like a metaphor of the life cycle, compared to the solar cycle; when it is hot, this means that it is active, there is social action, and due to the use one makes of it, it breaks up and must be restored to keep the social relations. Under cold conditions it would not function and these relationships would not occur. The metate, which comes with a "grinding hand" also made of stone, is compared with a woman's body, with protuberances and wrinkles that wear down with use. It is an object that is passed on via the mother. These objects are only handled by women, in every respect.