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Pottery Decorations
Based on these four basic patterns, the most skilful
potters managed to design fairly successful aesthetically
pleasing creations.
Several types of decorative patterns may be found on
one piece of pottery, including circular or triangular
shapes embellished by parallel, horizontal or zigzag
lines. Triangular and circular dot-shaped patterns were
found on pottery at a site in Ampasamaro. The site is on
a hill overlooking the left bank of the Mangoro River and
on the perimeter of Antogombato, along access road
number 7.
This technique is fairly simple and it was up to the skills
of the craftsman to ensure the neatness of the features
and the symmetry of the designs. Some pots are better
constructed and designed than others.
The final quality of a product would also be dependent
on the social importance of the customer. It is possible
that the same craftsman would work more carefully
when the customer was a person of high social rank in
the community. These patterns are found almost eve-
rywhere in Madagascar and the Comoros, and even in
East Africa. Stratigraphy comparison sometimes helps
identify the exact cultural phase.
Triangular decorations in relief only seem to have existed
in very few sites.
Herringbone decorations
Incision decorations
