MONTEZUMA CASTLE Montezuma Castle Archeology - Part 2: Textiles

(No. 22)

There is one net (No. 22) made from two-strand cord of Agave parryi. The cord has an average width of .04" (.1 cm.). The meshes are 2" by 2-1/4" (5.1 cm. by 5.7 cm.) rectangles, with a square knot at each corner. Knots which appear at other points in the net, for the purpose of adding more cord, are composed of two square knots drawn tightly together. (See Fig. 43.) The specimen is in two pieces.

Figure 43. When pulled tight Knot B appears as shown in smaller drawings.

Haury (p. 86; p. 84, Fig. 16, f; Pl. LVI) describes a two-ply yucca cord net similar to this one, with smaller meshes and a slightly different knotting technique. BM II and III nets similar to this are mentioned in the literature (PMP VIII, 2, p. 77; Guernsey, p. 79), but these are of apocynum or yucca, and human hair.

Specimen 22. Net (in two pieces, a and b)

Maximum length: a: 19", 48.3 cm. b: 11-1/2"; 29.3 cm.

Maximum width: a: 12"; 30.5 cm. b: 9-3/8"; 23.8 cm.

Average dimensions of squares: 2" x 2-1/4"; 5.1 cm. x 5.7 cm. Range from: 1-5/8" x 2" to 2-1/2" x 3"; 4.1 cm. x 5.1 cm. to 6.3 cm. x 7.6 cm.

Material: Agave parryi. Brown; shades from M&P 6-A-9 to M&P 8-J-1.

Weave: Net (Cf. Haury, pp. 84, 86, 87, Pl. LVI; BAEB 65, p. 113; PMP VIII, 2, p. 77.)

1. The net is composed of strands, each made of two twisted units.

a. Width of strands: Maximum: 1/8"; .3 cm. Minimum: .04"; .1 cm. Average: 1/16"; .2 cm.

b. Number of plies per unit (double for number per strand): Maximum: 26. Minimum: 20. Average: 23. The very small strands seem to be made by tighter twisting rather than by greatly lessening the number of plies.

2. Knots: a. Knots at the corners of the squares are regular square knots (A). b. Those in other places, used evidently for piecing out strands, are of a different technique, shown in the drawing below (B).

Plate 49. Net, Specimen No. 22