Ritual Stone Mortar Archaic Highlands Papua New Guinea This piece was excavated in a yam field outside of Mount Hagen in the New Guinea highlands. It is a very old piece, but with stone and stoneage people it is hard to pinpoint its date of origin. It has been lab tested and found to be of precontact manufacture. There is also evidence of recrystalization in pockets on it surface, which take many years to form. There have been people living in the area for 40,000 years. The hard stone mortar is of beautiful form and workmanship. It must have taken years to make this object with stoneage tools. It most likely served as a ritual object in its first life. However, after being unearthed, it was put to use for mixing body paint. I field collected this mortar in the Highlands from the man who found it. Micro-photos and scientific report are included with this piece. Photos | Oceania Index