[Aztlan] Hammocks, one more time

[Justin Kerr]

Dear Friends,

The Cordemex dictionary lists 4 words for HAMACA; hayabil k'aan, k'aan, ya'b
k'an, and yub. 

We have a number of images from the Late Classic of dignitaries being
carried in what looks like to me as woven or netted slings supported on
poles and carried by bearers. I have classified these carriers as "hammocks
or litters" as they seem very similar to me as the common hammock that is
used for sleeping.

However Miguel Covarrubias has challenged this assumption saying that a
sleeping device that hangs from hooks and a carrying device are very
different. I believe however, if the Ancient Maya had the technology to
weave or knot a carrying device such as illustrated, such a device could
have been used for sleeping as well. Granted, at the moment we have no
images of an Ancient Maya sleeping in or on anything, but I wanted to throw
this idea out one more time. The images available at the moment are K7822 in
Portfolio (A three dimensional mold made polychrome whistle). The vases are
K594, K1728, K5534, K6317, and K7613. (K1728 comes from the Peten while the
others from the highlands. In regard to the folded litter/hammock on K1728,
I recently saw a hammock in Mexico with almost the same decorations hanging
from the sides.)

The URL for Portfolio is http://research.famsi.org/kerrportfolio.html

The URL for the Vase Database is http://research.famsi.org/kerrmaya.html

Justin Kerr