Figure 1.2.6  Agave knife.

Figure 1.2.7  Roasted agave hearts.

Figure 1.2.8  Agave vendors.

Figure 1.2.9  Apache woman laying out mescal (© Arizona State Museum).

The detached leaves are the source of the second major agave product. Strong fibers are exposed by scraping off the pulp that encloses them, again with specialized stone implements in former times. Finer fibers for textiles can be obtained by selecting small, young inner leaves rather than larger mature ones. Twisted into thread with the aid of wooden spindles and whorls of pottery, stone, or perishable material, agave fibers are made into twine, rope, textiles, nets, bags, sandals, and many other craft items.

Figure 1.2.10  Otomi man exposing agave fiber.

Figure 1.2.11  Agave fiber on line.

Figure 1.2.12  Stone agave knives.

Figure 1.2.13  Verde Valley hafted knife.

(Continued)