Ceramic traditions and ceramic landscapes of the Indus Civilisation: investigating the technologies and socio-economic complexity of rural pottery production in Bronze Age northwest India.

Setting the wheels in motion: Re-examining ceramic forming techniques in Indus Civilisation villages in northwest India

“…A number of distinctive traces were identified on LHR-I and MSD-I sherds that suggest the use of coiling techniques during the initial phases of forming (Ceccarelli 2020). Figs.…”

“…They are likely representative of diverging local rural Indus manufacturing traditions, where it is possible to perceive a broader sense of shared features. On the one hand, the diverse traditions can be linked to a sense of pluralism in Indus northwest India, as manifestations or expressions of social identities and distinctiveness among different groups of people (see Petrie et al 2018;Ceccarelli 2020), which was a phenomenon that has already been observed at Indus sites such as Harappa, Bagasra/ Gola Dhoro and Shikarpur (Kenoyer 1991(Kenoyer , 1997Clark 2003Clark , 2009Clark , 2017Chase et al 2014Chase et al , 2016see Davis 2018). On the other hand, it is possible to observe a certain degree of shared knowledge and behaviours, especially in terms of manufacturing techniques, pottery forms and decorative styles.…”

“…Thus, indirect evidence for the use of the wheel in the form of physical and microscopic traces on the ceramics themselves have been used to build theories regarding the use of tools such as wheels or turntables (Dales and Kenoyer 1986;Mery 1994: 476-477;Miller 2007;Vidale 2000: 78-80). Some of these preconceptions will be discussed below (also see Ceccarelli andPetrie 2018, 2020 for an extensive review of past and current issues concerning theories and methods used to study Indus Civilisation ceramic materials, including tools and techniques).…”