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BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 177 
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Ficure 95.—Rim profiles and reconstructed vessel shapes of Onoro Stamped, Taruma Phase. 
Base: Fiat. 
Major vessel forms reconstructed from sherds: All rims are a variant of 
the same form, a small jar with a rounded or angular shoulder, nearly ver- 
tical to insloping neck, and everted or direct rim with pointed, rounded 
or flattened lip (fig. 95-1). Rim diameter 11.5-18.0 cm.; diameter at 
shoulder, 14-32 em.; base diameter (1 sherd), 18 em. The decoration is 
applied in a band at the maximum diameter when the shoulder is rounded, 
or just above the band when it is angular. The base fragment has a 
narrow band of decoration at the junction with the wall. 
DECORATION (pl. 46): 
Technique: 
After smoothing of the entire vessel surface, a thin (1-2 mm. thick) 
band of clay was added at or just above the point of greatest body 
diameter. Because of the dryness and smoothness of the underlying 
surface, the adhesion is not always good. This band, which varies 
between 1 and 3 cm. in width in the type, but is uniform on a single 
specimen, was decorated while the clay was still fairly wet by rolling 
the surface with a nut of Murity or Moriche palm (Mauritia fleruosa). 
This produces a pattern of diamond-shaped depressions separated by 
thin, low ridges, representing the negative impression of the nut, 
the surface of which has diamond-shaped raised areas separated by 
fine grooves. The clarity of the pattern suggests that the nut was 
rolled continuously around the vessel in the manner of a roller stamp. 
Variations in the size of the nut give variations in the dimension of 
the impressions on different sherds. Typical measurements of the 
diamonds are 3 by 5mm., 5 by 6 mm., 4 by 5mm. Depth averages 
1 mm. 
A rare variant of Onoro Stamped is produced by using a stick with 
a flat end 2.0-8.5 mm. wide. This was dragged diagonally across the 
applique strip and jabbed every 3-5 mm. The general effect is com- 
parable to the stamping, but the details are distinct (pl. 46, f, 7). 
