A STUDY OF INDIGENOUS AND MECHANIZED POTTERY DECORATION PROCESSES IN SELECTED CENTRES IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

A STUDY OF INDIGENOUS AND MECHANIZED POTTERY DECORATION PROCESSES IN SELECTED CENTRES IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Pottery is a unique and existing craft; it ranges from aesthetic, ceremonial to purely functional pots/wares. Origin of pottery is traced back to 4000BC in Egypt, where the earliest known example were urns used for holding the ashes of the dead, while in the other hand believes to extend so far back in time that, it is useless to attempt to place its beginning in any one region and the most remarkable thing about pottery making is its almost universal association with the early man over the surface of the earth and because communication was practically non-existent, we are led to the conclusion that, it evolves independently in many regions.The thesis places emphasis on the detail studies of indigenous and mechanized pottery decoration processes in selected pottery centres in southeasterprn Nigeria. These areas include Afikpo, Ishiagu and Ekpene Ukim, analyzing the indigenous materials used in the decoration process during the formation of their pots/wares. The study thus investigated and highlighted the indigenous materials sourced and applied in the decoration of pottery wares in those areas under study.Historical approach was adopted in this study to elicit information from relevant available sources, interview with villagers, both Men and Women as well as members of these communities on the trade/practices.The ethnographic method used include the participant’s observation, which involves the observing and recording of behaviors relevant to research problem and the key informant method of conducting one to one interview with important custodian of the Area’s histories and cultures.