After introducing the topic of craft specialization and presenting typologies of the phenomenon, we discuss learning of crafts and apprenticeship, focusing on research in India that combines ethnoarchaeology with cognitive psychology. Most of the ethnoarchaeological literature on craft specialization relates either to ceramics or to metallurgy. As ceramics are extensively treated elsewhere in this book, we here limit ourselves to citing a range of studies relating to forms of craft specialization in pottery manufacture. We then present two contrasting approaches to the analysis of agate beadmaking that have conflicting implications for the interpretation of Harappan archaeology. The larger part of the chapter relates to the ethnoarchaeology of metallurgy. Iron smelting in Africa is emphasized, but we also consider blacksmithing and brasscasting.

Specialist craft production

The rise of craft specialization has been tied to numerous factors, including ranking and power structures … the rise of urbanism … elite and/or ritual goods … restricted access to raw materials … trade and exchange systems … and elite control of markets and allocation of resources … It has often been tied directly to metallurgy …