Community Technical Identity among Potters in the Talina Valley, South Andean Bolivia

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between individual and community craft practices and technical identity. We examine the initial phases of the pottery production process, specifically the acquisition and processing of raw materials by women potters in the Indigenous and rural community of Chipihuayco in the Talina Valley, southern Bolivia. To unravel these dynamics, we employ a comprehensive approach that combines ethnographic and petrographic data. Ethnographic data provide insight into the collective and personal decision-making processes involved in ceramic production. Additionally, petrographic data allow us to investigate less visible aspects that shape technological practices, such as the mineralogical properties of raw materials and recipes. This study documents a strong association between the selection and processing of raw materials and a shared technical identity, which is embedded in broader cultural values and ritual practices.