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Mind, Identity, and Material Culture: How Pottery Heritage Influences Collective Behaviour and Creative-Product Innovation in Ban Kruat
Author(s)
Date Issued
January 1, 2025
Type
Article
Abstract
The research investigates pottery heritage as a framework encompassing cognitive, social, and material dimensions, within the context of collective action and the generation of products and innovations in pottery art in Ban Kruat, Thailand, a community in Southeast Asia maintaining enduring ceramic practices. Drawing on perspectives from cultural psychology, material culture studies, and creative industry analysis, the study explores how embodied knowledge, inherited crafting techniques, and shared symbolic meanings in pottery production contribute to shaping individual identity and fostering communal creativity. Employing a mixed qualitative approach, including ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews with potters, and artefact examination, the findings reveal that pottery heritage functions not merely as a preserved traditional craft but as a dynamic repository of social memory and a source of adaptive innovation. Data were collected from 100 registered community enterprise entrepreneurs, employing stratified sampling. A structured questionnaire with a 5-point rating scale (α=.921-.932) was utilised. Analysis included computation of means and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The study identified distinctive features of Ban Kruat pottery linked to its archaeological identity: 1) black-grey coloration, 2) durability, 3) coiling technique, 4) rounded bases, and 5) flared rims. To determine the clay composition, local clay was combined with pumice dust in a 2:1 weight ratio, yielding pottery with high strength (118.85 kg/cm2) and low water absorption (2.78%) following firing. Three key factors significantly influenced community enterprise entrepreneur satisfaction: aesthetics (=0.971), identity (=0.912), and materials (=0.888). Model fit indices indicated strong fit: Chi-square=74.349, df=65, p=.200, Chi-square/df=1.144, GPI=.911, NFI=.939, CFI=.992, TLI=.988, RMSEA=.038. The results indicate that intergenerational transmission of skills, ritualised production practices, and material engagement with clay enhance collaborative conduct, reinforce social cohesion, and support product diversification aligned with current market demands. By interlinking cognition, identity, and material culture, this research contributes to the broader discourse on heritage-driven innovation, demonstrating how traditional craft systems can sustain cultural continuity while facilitating creative product development in a globalised economic context.
Citation
Journal of Mind and Behavior, 46(3), 86-108, 2025