Contemporary stone beadmaking in Khambhat, India: Patterns of craft specialization and organization of production as reflected in the archaeological record

Abstract Archaeologists studying early urban societies have long used the concept of craft specialization as an important indicator of social stratification, centralized control of production and indirectly, state level organization. However, new interpretive models need to be developed in order to understand socio‐economic developments in the prehistoric period. The stone beadmaking industry of Khambhat, India, provides a modern example of a traditional specialized craft that is practised by different communities within a highly stratified society. Furthermore, there is a considerable degree of centralized control in production and various levels of state control are present. Preliminary results of the ethnoarchaeological and experimental studies of the stone bead industry in Khambhat are used to examine the concept of craft specialization and to suggest new ways of applying this concept to prehistoric studies.

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