Traditionally, a great diversity of materials have been used in the creation of African art, mostly of natural origin. Wood is the most frequent, and unusual stone. For the creation of sculptures, brass and bronze were used, while iron and iron were used for the manufacture of tools and weapons. TEXTILES Textiles, in addition to covering the body, are a symbol of social, economic or ritual prestige. The fabrics are usually made by men, who use vegetable fibers (linen, jute or raffia), cotton, silk and wool. Instead, women are responsible for decorating through embroidery or applications.
Symbol is social distinction are also bracelets, necklaces, anklets or belts. Made with glass beads, shells, feathers, mollusks ...
CLAY. Older material, known since the 9th century B.C. The land is collected on the banks of the rivers and for its modeling the lathe is not used, the pieces are made by hand. The most common technique is that of ‘churros’; overlay of long clay cylinders that will later be decorated with incisions, embossed motifs or color application with vegetable and mineral pigments. After days of drying, the objects are cooked in outdoor pits.
Esuit missionaries visiting the region in 1654 were the first to report salty brine springs around the southern end of "Salt Lake," known today as Onondaga Lake.
