ECA-V-015

This pedestal base, which almost certainly supported a finely-decorated bowl, is one of the finest examples of ceramic skill and artistry excavated at Talepakemalai. The main motif (PK119), on the upper part of the pedestal base, is a complex curvilinear design involving multiple dentate-stamped design elements combined with carved grooves that are filled in with lime. The motif is interpreted as representing two highly stylized, long-beaked birds facing each other. Below this is a band of motif A385, followed by motif A459. Immediately below this is motif PK120, consisting of more simplified long-beaked birds facing each other with beaks touching, each pair of birds separated by a dentate-stamped lozenge, the twin birds then repeating horizontally around the pedestal. Below the repeating long-beaked birds is zone marker RZ4D-5-2, followed by motif PK121, consisting of alternating, upright and inverted highly-stylized face designs, with the eyes represented by stamped circles and the nose by vertical stamped lines.