Man tending to the cow hides soaking in water in the vats at the tanneries in Marrakesh, Morocco, North Africa

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Marrakech Tanneries- After the fat an hair is removed from the hides the tanning process itself starts. A brew of wood barks is soaked in water with the hides. These are worked on over weeks by treading them into the mash. Eventually the protein structure in the skin is altered in a way that allows the hide to become more flexible. Workers are Berbers from the Atlas Mountains. They do not mix with other Berbers as their job is a lowly one working with animal droppings.

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Size: 2848px × 4287px
Location: Marrakesh Tanneries, Morocco
Photo credit: © Gary Blake / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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