The antiquity of these tools is well documented in early writing, such as the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus of ~1550 BCE (the oldest preserved piece of medical literature) and the Old Testament (Numbers 11:8 and Proverbs 27:22).
mortar | Mortar (weapon) | mortar (weapon) | 2-inch mortar | Type 94 90 mm Infantry Mortar | mortar and pestle | M106 mortar carrier | Ordnance ML 4.2 inch Mortar | Mortar methods | M2 mortar | L9A1 51 mm Light Mortar | Downing Street mortar attack |
The hills are notable as the habitat for over 2,000 species of medicinal plants and as the abode of the Vedic sage Agasthya, founder of the Siddhar practitioners of Rasayana herbal medicine, who is often depicted holding a mortar and pestle.
It is not dyed green, as can be done with pandan, but is immature rice kernels roasted over very low heat then pounded in a mortar and pestle until flattened.