Raised lines
      One way is to stick a thin clay rope on the pot.  The other is to build up the side of the pot into ridges with fingers or a pallet-like tool.
Another version of straw-rope pattern
      A tool for this pattern is a stick with a twisted rope wound around it.  Roll and press the stick on soft clay.
Fingernail pattern
      They are made with shell or split bamboo or fingernail.
Grooves
      Grooves or depressions made with a piece of wood, bamboo, or shell.
Vertical work
      As seen at the bottom part of the left-hand pot, this is a decoration with grooves or ridges.
Blocks
      Blocks are made by sticking clay ropes or drawing lines with a pallet-like tool, and they are filled with straw-rope shaped patterns or lines.
Shell shaped pattern
      Bivalves and snails were used.  Jomon people rolled those shells on clay or made holes or drew lines with them.
Press work
      The white one on the right side is a tool for this pattern.  The tool is as thin as a pencil, and a pattern is curved on it.  Roll and press the tool on soft clay, and then we can have the pattern.
Scroll work
     One way to make this pattern is to stick a clay rope on the side of a pot in a scroll.  The other is to draw a scroll with a pointed stick.                 
     As mentioned on the first page of this site, this prehistoric period was named Jomon bacause "jomon"(straw-rope shaped pattern) is typically seen on many pots excavated from strata of this period.  
     There are various jomon patterns found, but the left one is most popularly seen and is called "ujo jomon"(feather-like pattern).  This pattern is made by rolling a thin-twisted rope on the side of a pot while the clay is still soft.       

Jomon Patterns