Francesca Tomei (1) & Juan Ignacio Jimenez Rivero (2)
1 University of Liverpool (UK)
2 Independent potter specialising in ancient pottery (UK)
This experimental project, funded by the AHRC NWCDTP Fieldwork Fund, aims to reconstruct the building and use of a Classical Greek pottery kiln on the basis of the archaeological evidence of kilns excavated in Greece and Southern Italy. We will first describe the preliminary stages of the experiment that began with the study and development of the plan of the updraft kiln, the preparation of the mudbricks and the floor of the firing chamber, the construction of the combustion chamber and stoking channel of the kiln. In addition, alongside the kiln construction, we have also tried to replicate the chaîne opératoire of the ancient Greek pottery production from clay collection to wheel-throwing and produced fine wares (black gloss Ionic B2 cups, skyphoi and bowls), plain wares (basins, jugs, jars), cooking ware (pans), terracotta figurine and loomweights. The domestic wares and figurines reproduced are mirroring those from a rural workshop (Sant’Angelo Vecchio) in the territory of Metaponto in Southern Italy.
The final stage is to investigate the modes of operation of the kiln during the firing, such as the maximum firing temperature and the time to reach it, as well as the quantity and type of fuel needed for one firing. This latest stage is still to be completed as we were unable to conclude this stage in spring or summer 2020 due to the restrictions imposed by covid-19. We are hoping to finish this last stage in spring/summer 2021.
#EXARC #ExperimentalArchaeology #EAC12
29 мар 2021
