As people adopted a more sedentary lifestyle, the use of tandoors (clay ovens) became commonplace. Consequently, the craft of tandoor making became a sought-after skill. However, with the rise of industrial ovens, the use of traditional tandoors gradually declined.
Traditionally, women were the ones who constructed ovens, however, this responsibility gradually shifted towards men. Lokmane, a 72-year-old woman hailing from the village of Chaghr in Golestan Province, has dedicated nearly six decades of her life to crafting traditional clay ovens. She is passionate about keeping this ancient craft alive. She says: As a child, she was taught the art of clay oven construction by her paternal grandmother. To build a traditional clay oven, a mixture of yellow clay, goat hair, straw, salt, and water is used.
