Ironwood craft originated in the northwestern state of Sonora, from the Seri and Yaqui indigenous communities, before traveling down to the southern state of Oaxaca. Ironwood working is a collaborative process; the men create the rough shape of a piece by cutting wood with a machete, then women file in the details and add the final polish. Traditionally, ironwood was used to create a mortar, or molcajete, for grinding spices.