The Portillo Alto Era

An agricultural site designed to separate the grain from the rest of the plant.

A remnant of agricultural activity dating back to the mid-20th century. This building was used to process the grain from the harvests. Using threshing machines, usually drawn by mules, the grain was mechanically separated from the rest of the plant. Later, taking advantage of windy days, the threshed material was winnowed—a process involving throwing it upwards so that gravity and the wind would separate the grain from the chaff.