This is a sandstone utensil, designed for use as a grinder for medicine or other ingredients. This object originated from Takeo Temple in Angkor, Siem Reap Province, from where it was transferred for registration into the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia.
According to Khmer experts, this grinder was made in the 10th or 11th century of the Angkorian period. It is a huge medicine grinder from Angkorian times and for that reason it an extremely rare item in the museum’s collection. The surface is flat and smooth, where the rim a rounded is carved with images of the worshipping Diva in clustered patterns resemble cat paws.
The grinder consisted of two elements: the table and the roller. The roller is a long cylindrical object to grind medicines or herb. A person would place the ingredients on the table and then use the roller to crush them.