H16.2550

• north american indian

Acorn anvil. For cracking shell of acorns. Received from: Edgar Wooldridge. From the History Information Station: "Object: Anvil stone and quartzite hammerstone collected among the Lake County Pomo. they were acquired by C.P. Wilcomb, founding curator of the Oakland Public Museum , in 1914. History: A hammerstone and anvil are important food preparation utensils. Indian women use them to crack the shells of dried acorns so the meat can be removed. The acorn is held between fingertips with the pointed end against the anvil stone, and the flat top is hit with the end of the hammerstone. When many women work together, the constnat clicking produces a steady rhythm, which helps to ease the work load and makes the time pass pleasantly."