Research Paper
Linking Past and Present: An Ethnoarchaeological Insight into the Handmade Pottery-making Traditions of Andro Village, Manipur, India
Authors: Heigrujam Anandi Devi & Dwipen Bezbaruah
Year: 2026, Volume: 17, Page/Article: 209-229, DOI: https://doi.org/10.47509/AA.2026.v17i.12
Abstract
This paper examines the cultural continuity of pottery-making traditions in Andro village, Manipur, with an analysis of ethnographic observations and archaeological evidence drawn from earlier documented sources. It provides an ethnoarchaeological perspective on the tradition of handmade pottery practices of the Meitei community residing in Andro, where ancient ritualistic traditions remain integral to pottery-making. The research documents the whole process of pottery production and further records the typological variations and their corresponding functional attributes of pottery, followed by a morphological analysis. The field survey documents 29 different types of pottery meant for household and ritualistic purposes. Some varieties of pottery are found to be decorated with designs like herringbone patterns and small circular patterns. Findings reveal that plain potteries are found to be produced more than decorated pottery, and household vessels outnumber those made for ritual use, suggesting that the Andro people still use earthen vessels for various household activities, yet the use of ritualistic-purpose pottery does not reduce its significance. The study highlights the persistence of making pottery by hand and emphasizes the cultural significance of pottery as a living tradition.
Keywords: Andro, Manipur, Pottery-making Tradition, Handmade pottery, Cultural continuity, Living tradition