INDOOR FABRICS OF THE CUMUNIDAD CHILE-MATAGALPA

Abstract

The pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican societies designed and used tools or appliances for the various tasks of production and subsistence. Instruments such as the spindle and the distaff served to produce yarns that Indians used to weave clothes or blankets, which they used for consumption and exchange.

This paper discusses the existence of backstrap looms used to produce hand-woven fabrics, derived from an ancient practice that takes place in the community of El Chile, located 30 kilometers from Matagalpa, San Ramon Road to Muy Muy, Nicaragua. According to previous studies and those obtained from oral tradition told by some members of the Council of Elders and community residents, weaving on a backstrap loom is listed as an activity that ancient pride of the community residents. Hence the importance of having documented this activity, as a research carried out by the Nicaraguan institute of culture with financial support from UNESCO, Royal Norwengian Embassy and resulting in a wider study about looms value in El Chile, a community of indigenous descent.