Bihar has rich legacy of handicrafts and stone craft .It is visible and alive from the ancient pillars of the Mauryan period. Patharkatti in Gaya district is the traditional stoneware centre in Bihar. This area supplies in abundance the blue black pot stone from which artisans craft Buddhist icons, images and household articles like the pestle, the mortar kharal (medicine grinder). Chandil and karaikalla in Singhbum district and Dumka in Santhal parganas work on magnificently grained greenish black soapstone.
Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is the beautiful piece of the ancient stone carving artistry. Black stone artisans of Gaya in Bihar are also famous to build the Vishnapad temple in black stone in Gaya.
Stone carving is a very ancient tradition in Bihar and artists today also follow traditional techniques of polishing. This art is practiced at Patharkatti in Gaya district and in Chandil and Karaikalla in Singhbhum district. Items carved are statues of deities and household items such as thali, bowls etc. Today many utility articles in stone of various colours are being made in Gaya town.