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Type:	other
Ethnic Group:	Mossi
Country:	Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
ECU Number:	L0185
Description:	This wood mortar has acurved surface, head and tail (handle). Stress marks are visible on the surface. Wood mortars were used to grind peanuts and to process bark cloth. Mortars similar to this but five to six feet long are used in South Africa to butcher entire cows.
Significance researched to date:	Used with a rolling-pin type tool, wood mortars were used to grind peanuts and also to process bark cloth. The bark was hit, folded, then hit and refolded again and again until it was shiny and stretched to the desired size. The handle on this mortar was used to carrry it.