This week’s What’s New Wednesday hails from the early days of SDSU, when the school was known as the South Dakota Agricultural College. The black cast iron mortar and pestle dates to the late 1800s, likely used by Pharmacy Department students. They would grind medicinal plants and herbs in it. It was difficult to keep cast iron in good condition as they were subject to rust, so a movement to glass and ceramics took place. These simple tools date back to the Stone Age and were used for cooking, with the earliest being dated back to 35,000 BC. This mortar stands about 6.5 inches with the pestle about 8.5 inches long. Quite a bit of grinding could be done with it.