A sottae often stands at the entrance of a village. 

The spirit pole is an object of worship villagers venerate during a community rite to supplicate for a bumper harvest

Sottae are made of wood or stone and wooden birds or bird-shaped stones on top. The birds are believed to keep evil spirits away from the village by pecking at them. In some regions the birds are depicted as ducks.

The duck on the sottae, or spirit pole, symbolize fertility and prosperity and are indicative of an agrarian people's affinity for water.