Archaeological excavations recover a wide variety of materials that were created and used by the ancient Maya. Containers were often made out of pottery. Clay was also modelled and fired into pendents and figurines. Many items were made from stone. Arrowpoints, knives, drills, oddly- shaped objects, and jewelry were made from chert and obsidian. Limestone and granite were used to make manos and metates for grinding corn, spindle-whorls for working cotton fiber, and sculptures. Jadeite was manufactured into beads and other items. Adornments were also produced from marine shell and from both human and animal bone and teeth. All of these artifacts are useful for understanding the Maya of Caracol.