Weaving the World of Ancient Mayan Women

Weaving colorful cotton fabric was an art form among high ranking ancient Mayan women.  The Mayas cultivated cotton and used natural dyes from plant, animal and mineral sources.  They used spinning whorls to create thread that was dyed vibrant red, yellow, green, and blue.  A backstrap loom was used to weave patterns, usually glyphs, geometric shapes, plants and flowers.  Maya women wore shift dresses that hung to mid-calf and were adorned by borders around the neck, sleeves and hem.  This dress is called ypil (huipil) and is still worn by modern-day Mayas.  In ancient times, the ypil often left arms and shoulders bare, anchored with borders above the breasts.  Women wore belts decorated with shells, metallic discs, seeds and pods.  Jewelry was worn abundantly, including large pendants, heavy necklaces, wrist and ankle cuffs, and huge earrings made of jade, jadeite, amber, quartz, alabaster, sea shells and pearls.  No costume was complete without an elaborate headdress with waving feathers and jewels.