How were baskets used to store grain and other provisions?

Baskets have served as essential storage containers for provisions throughout history, utilizing various designs to protect goods from environmental factors and pests.

For the storage of grain and other dry goods, baskets are produced in a wide range of sizes. Some are designed to be hung off the ground to keep contents out of reach of predators, while others are built on such a large scale that they function as granaries. In regions like Sudan and southern Europe, these large granary baskets are often elevated on platforms and protected by roofs. To further preserve cereals, these containers are sometimes caulked with clay to seal them.1

In the context of the South Carolina Low Country, enslaved West Africans utilized tightly woven baskets for the storage of dry goods, while specialized flat baskets known as "fanners" were employed to winnow rice by tossing it into the wind to remove the chaff. Whether for personal possessions or bulk food supplies, the versatility of basketry has long provided practical solutions for the safe keeping of essential provisions.21