Page 14 - AHATA

Tuesday 19 sepTember 2023 locAl
A10

Episode 53: The Qudi, an Aruban native heritage

Qudi must be an old native name either a longer period of use or
for our island`s native grinding greater degree of activity. In tra-
stones, since in Papiamento it is ditional Amerindian culture, quid`s
called “Piedra di mula” (Pie` di were typically used by women who
mula) grinding stone. However the would grind maize and other or-
word Qudi also means a depres- ganic materials during food prep-
sion or hole in a hard rock surface aration. Making a sort of tortillas,
or bolder that can hold rain water cachapa or pan batí bread. Be-
for a longer time, which is till the yond grinding cereals, seeds and
next rain fall. legumes, Qudi`s where used to
elaborate healing potions, grind-
Qudi as waterholes, small sink holes ing clay, milling fish bones, extract
in the flat lime stone floor where natural dye of vegetation and
coral meets the rocky island and minerals and in the elaboration of
where little springs sometimes oc- ropes, an unimaginable ways of
curs. Now the Qudi as a native usage and applications. Sad is the
Aruban milling stone is a symbol of unfathomable loss Island cultural
sedentary survival that goes back heritage has suffers through illegal
thousands of years. One of Aruba`s export to foreign collector’s during
native heritage symbols. Ancestral the late 70`s.
milling stone or Qudi accompa-
nied by its prefect shaped pestle Little considered artifacts by many
or manga. archaeologists, seen as simply as a
common everyday tools, therefore
Both stones finally will shape each overlooked their symbolic signifi-
other. The Qudi`s are usually made cance. However a methodological
out of granite rock of the island`s approach will reveal how central it
batholite formation. But for the was for a native existence. The an-
manga you must go to the north cient manufacturers and users of
coast where the rooi dry river bed these grinding stones could be of
meets the beach to pick a round- older heritage. Acknowledge the
ed stone to fit the shape of the tremendous impact it had on the
depression of the grinding stone. traditional islander physical and
Primary commodity, the preferred sustainable welfare. It is of vital im-
material to be transformed in to portance to catalog family owners,
Aruba’s unique milling stones. A stories and origins of the Qudis left,
lithic testimony of local Agro- pot- tracing generations trough the life
ters. Was it a Caquetian heritage cycle of all of those whose life de-
or else? pended of these iconic artifacts,
From production (Born )to discard
The Qudi`s basic mechanical pur- (dead) from the modern society.
pose is to grind and to polish. Using That is why it is responsible that
its surface as anvil and the man- these stones which were so fun-
ga stone as the pestle (primarily) damental to Aruba’s pre-Hispanic
maize was ground into flour. Corn agriculturalists and corn-based
flour a symbol of spiritual transfor- cuisines culture be preserved and
mation embraced in the mystery of banned as export material. Qudi
life, death and rebirth. Qudi`s were y su manga, grinding stone and its
traditionally pass over to the eldest pestle have continued to sustain
aunt or sister as keeper matriarch life-not just literally, in terms of food
in line and guardian of the stone, and culture. To find a nature made
it seems that Qudi`s, Mortar`s or Qudi you could once go walk
Metate’s held a strong mean- about and find a carved stone left
ing for human life, death and the and even one carved by the old
hope for a rebirth or transformation ones. The Qudi represents one of
of some kind for many cultures all the most unusual and complex tra-
over. ditions of pre Columbian artifacts.
They come in many different forms,
Typically a large stones with a and morphological variation cor-
smooth depression or bowl worn responds to different regions or
into the upper surface is enough. quarries. They can be circular, rect-
The bowl is formed whether by angular, flat, or curved. They may
weather or by the continual and or may not have rims. Some show
long-term grinding of materials by signs of use-wear while others show
using a smooth hand-held manga, over use where a hole appeared
stone (aka : mano) for a proficient to be grinded out of bottom, mak-
method of turning grains into flour. ing it useless in a way. Some exam-
The laborious action consists of a ples where later also made out of
horizontal grinding motion that dif- limestone or coral and used as a
fers from the vertical crushing mo- fresh water filter.
tion used in a mortar and pestle.
Deeper metate bowls indicate Source; Island Insight by Etnia Nativa