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Other Artifacts Marker
Photographer: William J. Toman
Taken: September 4, 2010
Caption: Other Artifacts Marker
Additional Description: Ceramics and stone tools are the most commonly found artifacts at Aztalan, but other materials, such as animal bones, shell, and copper were also important. The shapes of particular animal bones might suggest another function; for example, bird bones are hollow and were made into flutes or beads, and particular deer bones could be easily modified into awls. Shells were made into spoons, hoes, pendants, and beads, and copper was made into fishhooks or items like beads or earspools. Plants could be woven into bags, baskets, or clothing, but at Aztalan they are most often part of the plaster used to cover houses and stockade walls. Plants were mixed with clay to cover and protect the walls, but when the structure burned, the fire would bake the plaster and turn it into a brick-like material. This has been called "Aztalan brick" because early visitors misinterpreted these items as being mud bricks.
Submitted: September 29, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.
Database Locator Identification Number: p129997
File Size: 3.462 Megabytes

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