Toys, Votives or Decorative? Reading the Human Mind on Terracotta Animals in Ethnoarchaeology 

Ruma Mukherjee

A key issue for Indian archaeologists and art historians studying terracotta is determining the function of these artefacts—whether they serve as objects of worship, funerary offerings, votive gifts, decorative items, or children’s toys. The abundance of terracotta animal remains in the Ganga–Yamuna valley, with special reference to Bengal, highlights questions about their role in society. Despite much speculation about the persistence of terracotta animal traditions, comprehensive research remains scarce. These artefacts are closely linked to intangible cultural heritage transmitted across generations and are vital for interpreting ancient customs, beliefs, religious practices, and ritual systems. Ongoing practices and beliefs surrounding these figurines often demonstrate their enduring relevance, layers of symbolic meanings, and forms of material worship. This study employs ethnographic methods in the Rarh (land of red soil) region of West Bengal in India, analysing how belief systems, social practices, and spatial contexts inform the interpretation and use of terracotta animals. The specificity of space, imbued with memory, emotion, and cultural significance, profoundly influences the understanding of these artefacts. Moreover, the process of terracotta animal manufacturing reveals sophisticated planning and cognitive complexity. The ideational cognition shapes material patterns and aligns them with functional needs in a given landscape.