Most South American pottery was made at centres in the Andes and on the west coast, particularly in Bolivia and Peru. Pottery of lesser importance comes from Ecuador, Colombia, northwest Argentina, and northern Chile. In some places a very high degree of skill was attained, especially in the central Andes, where the earliest wares seem to date from the end of the 2nd millennium bce. Much of the pottery was made in molds. The stirrup-shaped spout on many jars is a characteristic feature. The batik type of decoration already mentioned was also used. Vessels were modelled in the shape of ...(100 of 42409 words)