The sound of ancient Maya music is an attribute of this culture that carried a message. Analogous to language, carvings and artistic creations, the music of the ancient Maya served to communicate the meaning of the ritual or ceremony of which it was a part. Instruments are found at nearly every Maya site, which presents music as an element in the social fabric of the culture. Individuals possessed knowledge of instrument building, musical techniques and repertoire that made this art form a commodity. The Maya made use of numerous materials and developed knowledge to produce their music.