Traditional Handcrafts in Libyan Society: The Western Mountain as a Model "An Anthropological Study"

Abstract

Research into traditional industries is a field concerned with the collective memory and folk heritage of peoples—elements that reflect their authenticity and history. Various disciplines—including the social sciences, humanities, and cultural, economic, and applied sciences—address this subject, each within its own area of specialization. Accordingly, this research aims to study the traditional industries of the Western Mountain region and present the findings within a scholarly framework. It employs anthropological and ethnographic methodologies—based on description, observation, participant observation, and interviews—as well as photographic             

 documentation to convey the subject matter visually.

Upon completion, the study yielded several findings, including: an overview of traditional wool, leather, pottery, and food-processing industries in the Western Mountain region; the sourcing of all raw materials for these industries from the local environment and nature; and the existence of similarities among traditional industries across the region—a testament to a shared heritage and history that strengthens social cohesion among the mountain's inhabitants specifically, and within Libyan society generally. Additionally, women play a significant role in traditional industries focused on domestic use.