An Ethnoarchaeological Study of the Śāṅkhāri Community in Bishnupur, Bankura District, West Bengal

Brishti Mitra

Shell bangles, known as śāṅkhā, grace the wrists of married Hindu women in West Bengal and eastern India, embodying deep cultural symbolism and a craft tradition tracing back to the Harappan civilisation. This presentation draws on ethnoarchaeology to explore the Śāṅkhāri community of Bishnupur in Bankura district, shedding light on their technological practices, craft specialisation, and socio-cultural structures in conch shell working. We centre on Turbinellapyrum – the sacred conch shell harvested from the Indian Ocean, particularly near the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait. Its journey from coastal waters to inland workshops reveals ancient maritime trade networks along the Bay of Bengal, linking to broader Indian Ocean exchanges. Through direct ethnographic observation, we document the full production sequence which includes raw material sourcing, cutting, shaping, polishing, and finishing. This yields vital data on manufacturing waste (debitage), offering a lens to interpret shell remains from sites like Chandraketugarh, Pandu Rajar Dhibi, and Tamralipta. Literary sources, including Sangam texts, Buddhist writings, Kautilya's Arthashastra, and travelers' accounts, enrich these archaeological findings. We also examine labour dynamics among master cutters, polishers, and specialists, alongside gendered roles. These insights illuminate the socio-economic status of Śāṅkhāri artisans and patterns of craft specialisation. Ultimately, this work bridges living traditions with early historic eastern India, reconstructing technological lineages, trade links, and social worlds.