Tifinagh letters appear as single signs in some Moroccan rugs. They act as identifiers or graphic units rather than continuous text. Evidence level 2. [2]

Attested in Middle Atlas pile. Also present in Anti-Atlas flatweave archives. Often near borders or at the field center.

Names anchor presence. A lone sign can bind a work to maker or place. Interpretive.

Figure A. Nine signs. Labels are outside each cell.

Protective devices include chevron, eye, cross, and ram horn. Often placed on axis or in borders. Evidence level 1–2. [2]

Beni Ouarain and Zemmour show frequent axial chevrons. Boujad uses bold eye forms.

Protection frames the path of the sleeper and the home. Interpretive.

Figure B. Four signs. Labels are inside each cell.

The lozenge family encodes enclosure, center, and replication. Core variants here are nested and stacked. Evidence level 2. [2]

Dense nested fields in Ait Zayane and Beni Mrirt. Stacked chains common in Zemmour and Middle Atlas pile.

Holding. Doubling. Birth. Interpretive.

Figure C1 Nested lozenge. Figure C2 Stacked lozenge chain.

The comb motif references the loom and finishing tools. Tooth counts vary by region and weaver habit. Evidence level 1–2. [2]

Beni Mrirt shows fine combing in borders. Zemmour uses bold three-tooth marks.

Tool made visible. Technique turned into sign. Interpretive.

Figure D1 Standard comb. D2 Five-tooth variant. D3 Three-tooth variant. Optional stamp.

Path systems connect fields. Zigzag, water, ladder, and mesh. Lattice sets the scaffold for diamonds. Evidence level 1–2. [2]

Siroua and Ait Ouauzguita show dense lattices. Boujad introduces broken meshes.

Movement. Irrigation. Wayfinding. Interpretive.

Figure E1 Mesh scaffold with zigzag path and ladder overlay.

Open bias lattice. Even spacing. Nodes optional. Evidence level 1–2. [2]

Seen in Ait Ouauzguita and Zemmour kilims. Also present in Siroua lattices with lozenge infill.

Space to breathe. Fields remain permeable. Interpretive.

Figure F1 Open lattice.

Compressed lattice with reduced vertical pitch. Evidence level 1–2. [2]

Lozenge fields seen in Middle Atlas pieces and Zemmour kilims. Proportions vary by tribe and period.

Pressure. Constriction. Field under tension. Interpretive.

Figure F2 Compressed v2. Bias lattice with low band accent.

Staggered lattice. Alternate diamond columns offset by a half step. High band accent.

Offset chains occur across Middle Atlas and Siroua marks. Boujad fields often show stepped runs within diamond networks.

Slip. Shift. Migration across the field. Interpretive.

Figure F3 Staggered v2. Bias lattice with high band accent.

The fibula star abstracts metal brooch forms. The horizon line is a stabilizing band near the base of fields. Evidence level 2. [2]

Starburst is frequent in High Atlas weaving. Broad horizon bands are common in Beni Mrirt near the lower third.

Fasten. Pin. Ground. Interpretive.

Figure F1 Fibula star. Figure F2 Horizon band.