Volume 19
Traditional Craftsmanship
Tools and techniques involved in the manufacturing of traditional watermills (chhoskor) in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh
Tools and techniques involved in the manufacturing of traditional watermills (chhoskor) in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh
Liquid Gold: Berber Women and the Argan Oil Co-operatives in Morocco
Chuskor: Traditional Water Mills of the Dirang Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh
The argan tree grows mostly in Morocco. Its fruit is an oval berry, the shape of a large and round olive.
From left to right: dried argan fruits, pits and kernels.
Oil extraction machines produce argan oil efficiently.
Argan oil soaps and moisturisers are popular souvenirs for tourists.
A millstone comprises a runner stone lodged on top of a bed stone, but millstones for dried goods (first from the left) or for argan oil are shaped slightly different.
The bed stone remains stationary when the runner stone rotates, and through the ‘eye’ in the runner stone, the kernels are funneled down and ground.
Argan trees are frequently climbed on by goats.
Pressing is consistently kneading the dough until the emulsion separates from the solid dough. The emulsion is then decanted and filtered
Berber women milling, pit-cracking and pressing are depicted on a cooperative’s wall.
A pounder and an anvil are needed for de-pulping.
Pits have to be cracked open with a hammer stone to retrieve the kernels inside.
Rangthang and jangpa grinding flour.