TAKING A BREAK IN THE 11TH CENTURY TANNERY
During the leather making process animal hides are taken and soaked in a fetid vat of water and pigeon excrement. Delivered daily from pigeon coups across the rooftops of the medina, the ammonia in the guano acts as a softening agent. This foul smelling job is reserved for the strongest and mainly younger men who bravely climb into the vats and spend 2 even 3 hours at a time kneading and pounding the skins with their legs and feet to achieve the desired softness to the skin.
