The mortar and pestle is frequently associated with the pharmacy profession since it is used for preparing medications. The substance to be ground is placed in the mortar and is then rotated and pressed by the pestle. They are used to grind up pills to speed up absorption when ingested. They are also used in cooking to prepare items such as guacamole, hummus and pesto and for grinding spices. Mortar and pestles date back to 35,000 BC