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The knowledge of how to transform mud into pottery signifies a major leap

forward for prehistoric cultures, and until the development of metal cooking
pots, ceramic pottery was the pinnacle of cooking technology. Clay pots are
lighter than soapstone and easier to transport. They also heat up faster than
stone vessels and can be made in much larger sizes than stone vessels (e.g.
big enough to feed a village from one pot). To make your own clay pot, likely
smaller than the village sized pot, the first part of the project involves finding
the clay.

Make Your Pot


You can harvest clay from creek and river banks, or by digging down in the
ground to a clay layer in areas that have clay rich soil. Clay comes in many
colors, from white to red to dark grey. It can also have different textures, if
sand and small bits of stone are blended in that layer. But all good pottery
clay should be able to get tied in a knot. Roll the wet clay into a “rope” shape
and tied a knot in it (like a pretzel). If the clay ties into a knot without
breaking, it should be a good candidate for pottery. Clay can be harvested
fresh and wet, right out of the ground. It can also be collected dry, in more
arid climates. Grind your dry clay into powder and add a little water to
rehydrate it. Before making your pot, you’ll want to add some sand or stone
dust to “temper” the clay. Add one part sand or crushed quartz to two parts
clay (temper should be 1/3 the volume). Once blended, the temper and clay
mix is ready to form pottery. Your first project can be a bowl or very small
pot. Simply shape a concave vessel from your clay mix, smoothing it and
compressing it as you go. Allow it to dry briefly, until it is only a little
malleable (leather dry). Place a large smooth stone in the concavity and
paddle the outside of the vessel with a flat piece of wood. This compresses
the walls of the pottery and helps eliminate air bubbles. Set the pottery aside
to dry for several weeks, or longer, and then fire it. You can learn more
complex pottery production techniques, like coil pottery, after learning the
basics with these “pinch pots”.

Get Fired Up
If making a clay pot is the first hurdle to jump in this primitive technology –
then firing the pot is the second hurdle. Firing sounds simple enough. You
just have to get the dried clay object over 1112 degrees F to drive off the
chemically bonded water. This is called the “ceramic change” and it’s
irreversible. Once dried “mud” has heated enough to become ceramic, it can
never “melt” like mud in the presence of water again. But of course, it’s not
as simple as that. Follow these steps to have a good shot at a finished ceramic
item, and minimize the chance of making a handful of broken pottery shards.

STEP 1 Let it dry. Your proposed pottery needs to dry for weeks, to
eliminate all but the bonded water from its delicate walls. If there is more
water than that, it will likely turn to steam and that expansion will cause
cracks, breaks or violent explosions. Ironically, you need water to make
pottery, but water will also break it.

STEP 2 Pre-heat gently. Dry pottery can still explode, if you quickly expose
it to thermal shock. Gradually warm it and turn the item near a fire to preheat
it. Don't just a light a pile of sticks over a cold pot. Don't fire on a breezy day,
either. A cool gust of wind can send a cooling shock wave through the
vulnerable pottery and break it. The use of a deep firing pit can help to
control the temperature and minimize shocks.

STEP 3 Fire thoroughly. Once preheated near a fire, encircle the object or
pile of objects with a ring of burning sticks and then push them closer to the
pot SLOWLY, over the span of an hour. Once the pottery is very hot, then
gently place sticks over it and bury it in fire.

STEP 4 Finish easy. Let the pottery cool down completely before moving it
from the ashes of the fire. Inspect it for cracks. If none are visible, flick it
with your fingernail. If it rings like a bell – you did a good job. If it doesn't –
you can still use it, but it may not last as long.
Have you ever made your own clay pot with raw clay from the wild? Tell us
how you did it by leaving a comment.

Reference:
https://www.outdoorlife.com/primitive-ceramics-how-to-make-your-
own-clay-pots/#:~:text=Grind%20your%20dry%20clay%20into,is
%20ready%20to%20form%20pottery.

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