Rice mortar and pestle, mid-19th century
(Courtesy South Carolina State Museum)

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African-Americans who worked in the South's rice industry used traditional methods and tools developed in West Africa.

Images 5 & 6 of 19 

They used large, shallow baskets, known as fanners, to winnow or separate the grain from the chaff, and a montar and pestle to husk the grain.

Rice fanner, mid 19th century.
(The Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina)