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Local Pottery
Local pottery can be classified under the following groups: dough, coated,
tempered, and baked.
Dough
A clay mixture is used as the basic material to make
pottery. Dough can be either fine or coarse.
Coated
A thin layer is applied to the dough to give it a
uniform appearance. In the study area, graphite was
the most commonly used, alongside red ochre.
Tempered
Materials (mostly sand, grass, etc.) are used to help
temper the clay to change its plasticity and enable it
to be dried and baked without deformation.
Baked
To harden the clay, the pottery may be sun-dried
or baked in a fire, using oxidation (open hearth) or
reduction (closed hearth) techniques.
Comparison of these elements in local pottery and particular forms of
containers helps define the period. In Madagascar, pottery is classified
according to pre-established cultural phases. Five phases have been
identified in the region under review. From the oldest to the newest these
phases are: Sandrakatsy; Mahilaka; Ambitsika; Ambibe; and Sahamamy.
