by Karim Attia.

Without delving into the complexity of global variations, the two firing methods argued to have been in use in the Iron Age are the kiln method and the hearth method.  The former is described below.  The latter was far simpler, involving the building, and maintaining, of a fire around the items to be fired.

Building the Kiln:

1.    Into a gentle slope, dig two pits and a canal joining both to form a ‘dumbbell’ shape.  The pit at the top of the slope needs to be deep enough to accommodate sufficient fuel for the kiln.  The pit at the lower end need  not be so large as it is for the drawn out ash to cool and will be emptied throughout the firing.  The canal needs to be wide, and long, enough to permit access to the ashes and for introducing fresh fuel without being so large that it permits too much oxygen in and heat out.

2.    Weave a convex roof over the kiln pit using willow, or similar wood.

3.    Cover the willow frame with a clay/straw mix 1-1.5 inches thick.  Pierce this structure with inch diameter holes – to allow the heat into the body of the kiln.  This will form the firing floor of the kiln.

4.    Weave a hemispherical structure over the kiln pit using willow, or similar wood.

5.    Cover the willow frame with a clay/straw mix 1-1.5 inches thick.  Depending on the size of the ceramics to be fired, create an access either in the roof (for large objects), or at the base of a side.  On the canal/down-slope side of this structure, create a peephole.  This is to allow regular monitoring of the firing throughout its progress.  Ensure some way of resealing after each view.

6.    Build a permanent all weather structure to protect the kiln.  This will enable the kiln to be used for many years.

7.    Make a long handled tool for raking out the hot ashes and introducing the ignition embers.

8.    Allow the structure to dry for two weeks, mending any cracks as they appear.

9.    Fire the kiln for eight to ten hours.  This will burn away the willow weave and transform the clay into ceramic.  The kiln is now ready for use.

Flue?

Firing the ‘pots’:

N.B. EVERYTHING MUST BE BONE DRY – steam is explosive!

1.    Ensure you have enough fuel (average ??Kg per hour x 10 hours = ??Kg); ensure some method of putting out the fire in an emergency (water/sand); bung for peephole; rake for ashes; clay mix for sealing cracks as they appear (white = steam = normal, yellow = smoke = crack); meat and beer (for pleasure).

2.    Put the biscuit-dry (if it feels at all colder than the ambient temperature it is not dry) pots into the kiln ensuring maximum stability.

3.    Pack the pots with plenty of dry straw and kindling.

4.    Pack the kiln-pit with plenty of dry wood ensuring all pieces are small (fast/hot burning).

5.    Cover the kiln in turfs to insulate and reduce the access of oxygen.

6.    Ignite the fuel in the pit using hot embers.

7.    Keep the fire ticking along for four hours, taking out ash and introducing fresh fuel.

8.    For the last four hours stoke the fire to maximum temperature.

9.    At the end of eight hours, one has the option of leaving the fire to die down of its own accord, or, if one desires a black finish to the pots, to cram it with fresh fuel and then seal it up completely.  By sealing the fire in, you starve it of oxygen forcing it to burn long and slow.

10.    Allow a couple of days for the kiln and pots to cool.

N.B. Handle and dispose of the hot ash very carefully.

Observations:

The layout and structure of the kiln is reminiscent of the womb (kiln) and vagina (canal).  This similarity is amplified by the nature of the devices.  The womb and kiln both employ living fire to magically transform basic ingredients into new more complex forms.

FIRE emerges as a power for change and for life.  Fire is magic.  The very real power of fire is accessible in proportion to the knowledge and skill of the wielder.