Decorative pottery was made on many islands for thousands of years, but now survives mainly on Choiseul Island.
Just as every man and woman was a gardener, each also developed skills in various crafts. Solomon Islanders have always made elaborate decorations on ornamental combs, necklaces, bags, containers for lime for betel nut chewing, woven belts and armbands, baskets, food bowls, dancing sticks, houses and canoes.
These patterns are repeated on tattoos, the most extensive of which are from the Polynesian Islands. See Body Art Solomon Island woodcarvings, with mother-of-pearl and other shell inlays, are among the most exquisite in the Pacific, and various traditional designs have become ubiquitous in modern tourist art.
Stone carving of ornaments is confined mostly to the Western Solomons, particularly Ranongga and Choiseul Islands. The Solomon Islands National Museum q. Much of the following draws from explanatory materials produced by the Solomon Islands National Museum. Star Harbour on the east coast of Santa Ana is famous for its carvers, who specialised in carved house posts, and decorated canoes and food bowls.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered trochus Trochidae shell fragments and other decorated items, similar to those from nearby Ugi Island, dating back at least five hundred years. Mortars and pestles were made from wood and stone and used to prepare taro and nut puddings.
