The earliest of the ceramic series developed by Irving Rouse and José Cruxent for the purpose of cultural comparison in the Lesser Antilles/Venezuela region. The type site, Saladero, situated on the Orinoco River, rendered a series of radiocarbon dates placing its inception in the early 1st millennium be. Although Saladoid material is overlain by Barrancoid ceramics at Saladero, the two continued to flourish concurrently in separate areas until cl000 ad. Characteristically, Saladoid pottery is thin and fine with slight grit temper, and is distinguished especially by white-on-red painted designs. The everted bell, often with tabular lugs, is the favoured vessel form. Vessels connected with the preparation of manioc, such as griddles, are also present at many sites.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied