Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Prof. Manuel Arroyo-Kalin, Dept of Archaeology, University College London, UK, m.arroyo-kalin@ucl.ac.uk
Prof. Alexander Herrera, Dept de Historia del Arte, Universidad del los Andes, Colombia, alherrer@uniandes.edu.co
From the Palaeolithic to the recent past, human uses of fire have been closely associated with the idea of the tool. From food preparation, procurement and production to architecture and metallurgy these uses are often considered separately from its symbolic use, in religious and mortuary rituals, and the domestic hearth. This session seeks to bring together and integrate archaeological, historic and ethnographic evidence in discussions pushing the conceptual movement beyond utilitarianism towards possibilism, re-centring fire at crux of broader debates about technology in the past, and present.
Papers:
Igniting the Flames of the Past: The Role of Fire in Community from an Archaeological Lens
Swayamdipta Munshi, Independent Researcher, affiliated with Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, India
Chandrima Shaha, Ph.D. Scholar, Dept of Archaeology, University of Calcutta, India
The most important characteristic of community archaeology is understanding a distinguishing collection of practices within a local community of the past. The discipline is about individuals and how they engage the past to establish distinct processes of the present. Practices regarding fire are crucial to defining group identity, cultural customs, and building social and kin networks. Fire has a vital role within a community in any part of the globe, from using it for sustenance to gathering around for warmth and company to exposing various body parts to thermal stimuli to use it for protection. This research, as opposed to discussing fire as a technological component, explores the fundamental ability of fire in its role to unite individuals to establish a community or society in a broader aspect. By studying the cultural significance of fire, we can gain insights into social dynamics and human behaviour.
Craft to Culture: Sacred Iron Sarbloh’s Role in Punjab’s Folk and Artistic Heritage
Ankur Kajla, Research Scholar, Department of History, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
Munmun Mondal, Department of History, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India
This study investigates into the profound significance of Sarbloh (sacred iron) within Punjab’s artistic heritage and folk traditions, exploring its transformation from a common craft material into a revered cultural artefact. It examines Sarbloh’s evolution from a utilitarian metal to a renowned emblem rooted deeply in Sikh faith and Punjabi culture. Originating in the concept of the Sikh Khalsa, Sarbloh is prized for its purity and resilience and appears across Punjabi culture, from ancient tools and weaponry to religious and artistic expressions. It is highly valued for its association with Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa doctrine. Throughout history, Sarbloh has been used to create everyday items, sacred objects, and weapons, each carrying its own symbolic meaning. More importantly, this study links these artefacts directly to the Khalsa warrior ethos, showing how Sarbloh weapons—such as swords and shields—embody the Sikh values of bravery, protection, and combat readiness. Beyond practical items, Sarbloh is often seen as symbolising the community’s strength and resilience. This paper argues that these artistic and cultural expressions support intergenerational continuity, preserve and transmit values tied to Punjabi identity, and foster a strong connection between the community and its legacy. It further argues how Sarbloh serves as a potent channel for spiritual identity and cultural expression within Punjab’s rich heritage, transcending its physical form. To investigate the cultural significance of Sarbloh in Punjab’s folk and artistic history, this study employs a multidisciplinary approach that combines historical analysis, ethnographic research, and material culture studies.
Metal and Mineral Sources in Connection to Early Nagas’ Indigenous Knowledge of Metallurgy
Tiatemjen Tzudir, independent scholar
The evolution of Nagas’ cultural identity owes much to technologies connected to ferrous and non-ferrous metals, whose early metalworkers were known to have predominately utilised varied elements of clay soil minerals which they dug and collected from their surroundings. This is where Naga’s Indigenous knowledge of different minerals became an early source in metal binding, welding, soldering, mending, and strengthening under hot forging, casting and gunsmithing, as well as in ingredients to gunpowder making. To a great extent, such knowledge of Indigenous technologies helps to reaffirm varied challenges in reconstructing their early extinct metal smelting and casting technological procedures found in archaeological traces.
Through the present research, one has attempted to share a distinct part of early Konyak and Khiamniungan Nagas’ Indigenous knowledge of metal technologies, particularly about minerals studied through field ethnography, archaeology, and experimental archaeology. It clearly indicates such early traditions in metal technology have prevailed quite beyond practices of just fabricating metals.
Crafting Legitimacy: Geo-Social Choices in Glazed Ceramic Roof Tile Firing Technologies Between Angkor, Cambodia, and China
Sharon Wong Wai Yee, Department of Anthropology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
This paper investigates the complex relationship between human choices and technological advancements in the craftsmanship of ceramic roof tiles, linking Angkor, Cambodia, with the Nanhan Palace Site in Guangzhou, China.
While previous studies have focused on East Asian wooden palace roofing using glazed ceramic tiles, the connections with Southeast Asia remain under-explored. This paper examines how Cambodians adopted glazed ceramic manufacturing technologies from China, the second earliest Asian country to produce and use glazed roof tiles for wooden architectural structures.
The production and use of glazed ceramic roof tiles are key indicators of how Khmer rulers asserted their legitimacy in mainland Southeast Asia. These technologies are deeply intertwined with cultural identity and political expression. By combining archaeological findings from both regions, I argue that interactions with China inspired Cambodians to initiate roof tile production for elite residences and temples. The local architectural tradition is defined by Cambodian ranking systems for roof tile usage in Angkor.
By focusing on the role of fire in ceramic production, this research offers a new perspective on the implications of technology within Angkorian society, bridging with historical and ethnoarchaeological evidence. It highlights new pathways for showcasing architectural traditions within the inter-Asian cultural landscape.
The Relationship Between Iron Technology and Politics in Tomb Rituals During the Japanese State Formation Process
Izumi Maki, Doshisha University, Japan
From the 3rd to the 6th centuries, tumuli—Kofun—were constructed across Japan, ranging in size from approximately 10 metres to over 400 metres in length. These tumuli are widely recognised as political symbols that predate the establishment of a legal state. Excavations have uncovered a variety of burial goods within these tumuli. These items were used in funerary rituals and played a role in the formation of the state. Among these, large quantities of iron weapons, farm tools, and other implements were found. The assemblage of iron artifacts in the tumuli can be classified into two patterns. The first consists of thin iron items, less than 0.5 cm thick, made with simple technologies and buried in large numbers. For example, some tumuli contained over 100 iron swords and more than 200 sickles. The second consists of thicker iron items made with more complex technologies, buried in smaller quantities. Initially, the first pattern dominated but was later replaced by the second. This difference may be due to the constraints imposed on technology by tradition of funerary rituals. The political relations between social groups moving towards nation-state formation also influenced the technological differences in ironware production.