order to carry water from streams to homes. Th ey built large
pots with tight-fi tting lids that could hold grain and protect it
from insects, rodents, and moisture. Th ey constructed large
water pots with glazed interiors that would not leak. Th ey
also invented pots to store seeds for planting, using diff erent
designs to identify diff erent types of seeds.
Th e Maya of the southern Yucatán peninsula in Mexico
stored water in reservoirs in the ground. Th ey dug holes in
the ground and then plastered the bottoms to prevent water
from running out the porous limestone bottoms. Th ese res-
ervoirs could hold enough water to last about 18 months with
no rain.See also agriculture; architecture; borders and fron-
tiers; building techniques and materials; ceramicsand pottery; climate and geography; crafts; death
and burial practices; economy; family; food and diet;
gender structures and roles; health and disease;
hunting, fishing, and gathering; inventions; mining,
quarrying, and salt making; nomadic and pastoral
societies; religion and cosmology; settlement pat-
terns; towns and villages; trade and exchange.FURTHER READING
Daphne L. Derven, “Preserving.” In Encyclopedia of Food and Cul-
ture, ed. Solomon H. Katz (New York: Scribner, 2003).
Salima Ikram, Choice Cuts: Meat Production in Ancient Egypt (Lou-
vain, Belgium: Departement Oosterse Studies, 1995).
Hilary Wilson, Egyptian Food and Drink (Princes Risborough,
U.K.: Shire Publications, 1995).storage and preservation: further reading 10710895-1194_Soc&Culturev4(s-z).i1071 1071 10/10/07 2:30:58 PM