Baskets serve an important utilitarian function in the daily life of Amazon people. Baskets are
usually used to hold items for carrying or storage but these type of flat baskets are used in
processing manioc flour. Dried manioc that has been pounded to a coarse flour is placed in the
baskets and then sieved to achieve a finer grade. These baskets are woven from a tall, bamboo-like
grass. Basketry is among the most ancient crafts and survives in the Amazon at a high level of
skill. However, it seems most baskets are made today for the tourist market—an instance where
ecotourism helps maintain an otherwise disappearing tradition.
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