Why does the Ħaġar Qim seem to have drilled holes / pitted dots on its stoneworks?
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Such stippling is a common feature at prehistoric Maltese sites. They are often considered a primitive decorative pattern - somewhat of a forerunner of a modern art form.
It is the best preserved of all the Maltese temples ... The two left-hand lobed chambers are linked by a trilith niche of stones decorated by stippling; the inner of these two chambers is subdivided and in it stands two betyls, or pillar altars.
- Service, Alastair and Bradbery, Jean. Megaliths and Their Mysteries: A Guide to the Standing Stones of Europe. MacMillan Publishing Co.: New York. 1979
And:
The device of stippling the background with an infinitude of tiny hammer-pick holes exquisitely sets off the boldly rounded curves that seem to have been a happy obsession with these artist-masons.
- Hogg, Garry. Malta: Blue-water Island. AS Barnes, 1968.
However there is no real way to be sure about their purpose. Some suggests, for instance, that a row of the dots counted the number of days between equinoxes.
Upvote:0
It is a decorative pattern. Artists call this kind of stippled background pattern a ground. In Japan it is known as nanako, which means fish eggs. The purpose is to set off and accentuate the primary design.
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