Bundles of cut reeds south of Riobamba, Ecuador

Several large bundles of cut reeds lay on the ground. A few sheep graze in the background.Reeds serve many purposes in traditional Andean building practices. They can be made into a surprisingly strong boat, they provide the framework for thatched-roofs, and they can be fashioned into a myriad of basket shapes. The knowledge needed to work reeds into their many useful products is passed down within families of Quechua-speaking peoples.