Last autumn we carried out the first of our experiments in how early pottery might have been made and fired. We started with the Early Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age period.

To do this we began by preparing locally sourced clays, cleaning, kneading and adding a variety of inclusions (pieces of shell, burnt flint, etc added to help stop the pots cracking during firing).

We then made pots in a variety of styles and with methods based as much as possible on what has been found in the local Wessex area.

At the same time we were experimenting with the tricky art of building and managing different types of bonfires that might have been used to fire pots at that time.
It took 2 days to fire the pots, beginning with drying them out very slowly with flameless heat for about 4 hours.

It was very thirsty work!

Once the pots were fired they had to be left to cool down slowly overnight until they could be handled.

We would like to acknowledge our deep dept of gratitude to Bill Crumbleholme for his generous habit of sharing his extensive experience in the field of early firing techniques. Also to Jonathan Garratt from Hare Lane Pottery who’s extensive knowledge of local clay’s was an enormous help.

This is only a very brief out line of what we did, if anyone is interested in a more detailed description of what we did please contact the ATC and we will be happy to help.
Also please contact us if you would be interested in joining us for further experiments in this field. We are hoping to work our way through the ages of pottery development up to the Medieval period if we can!

Then the heat had to be steadily increased until it reached the 800 degrees or so required to fire the pots properly.