A grinding stone.

The ubiquity of grinding stones on Mississippian sites is another indication of the importance of plant foods in Mississippian people's daily lives. Grinding is essentially a mechanical way of pre-chewing food that would otherwise be difficult, painful, or time-consuming to chew. Metates and manos are significant markers in the world-wide archeological record because they indicate a reliance on processed plant foods.

Reconstruction of woman grinding maize Cahokia Mounds Museum.

This food preparation technique was not without its drawbacks, however. Use of grinding stones introduced appreciable amounts of grit and sand particles into the diet. While the stomach is more than capable of dealing with this inorganic roughage, the teeth of Mississippians show increased rates of tooth wear and chipping. Nevertheless, grinding created a more easily digested food for children and adults alike.

Teeth with heavy wear and cavities.

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