Some version of the mortar and pestle has been in use by many cultures for thousands of years to grind and prepare food.

The mortar is a stone or wooden bowl used to hold whatever is being ground (herbs, spices, nuts, beans). The pestle is the heavy hand tool used for grinding.

Stone was probably the original material used for a mortar and pestle, and may still be the most popular (basalt, granite and marble are common, as is porcelain).

Today, food processors and electric spice grinders often replace the mortar and pestle, but for small amounts of ground spices, pesto and spice pastes, they're hard to beat (and good looking, too).

Reference: What is a spice paste good for?