Pottery (Ceramic) Technology

POTTERY (CERAMIC) TECHNOLOGY

Pottery is a type of material used by people for their needs with clay types. A pot is an object made of clay. Pottery making techniques have been traced back to ancient times. This profession is known as 'Kuyaththozhil' in Tamil and the potters are called 'Vetco, Kalanseiko, Kuyavar' in the sangam age.

A large part of the history of pottery belongs to pre-historic, pre-literate ancient cultures. Much of this history is received through the artefacts recovered from the archaeological excavations.

1. Multiple Stages of Pottery Industry

Before Pottery becomes part of the culture, it must have crossed several stages.

1. Clay

Suitable clay should be available for pot making. Archaeological sites where pottery items were found are well- designed and close to locations with readily available sources of clay suitable for heating.

 2. Proper Temperature

It should be possible to create a temperature (temperature suitable for heating) at which the clay is transformed into the kiln.

3. Time

There must have been enough time to prepare, shape and make the clay pot suitable for using.

2. Types of Pots

The Sangam Tamils used a variety of pots in terms of size and use.

1. Dasumbu

A pot called the dasumbu was used to fill milk, curd, etc.,

2. Kannal

An earthen pot for filling water is called kannal. It is of two types.

(i) Thoduvai Kannal

It refers to an earthen water storage pot with a convex mouth.

(ii) Karuneel Kannal

The pot is filled with water and the water is let to trickle through the small hole at the bottom. It is used as a measuring tool.

3. Gadi

Lemon, gooseberry, tamarind, mango pickles are preserved by keeping them in a pot called gadi made of clay.

4.Kumizhi

A clay pot used for cooking food at home was called kumizhi.

5.Thadavu

The earthen pot used by the ancient Tamils to heat water in cold season is called Thadavu. They are available in red and black colours.

6. Broken Vessel (or) Hollow Pot

The broken pots were also used by the people during that time.

(i) Neck Part

The neck of a broken pot was used for safely planting saplings.

(ii) Middle Part

The middle part of the pot was used for frying groundnut, tamarind, corn and rice.

3. Pottery Making Process

First, the clay soil is taken and water is poured and it is soaked for a whole day. Then, a certain amount of sand, ash, black jaggery (Panaivellam), salt and hog plum (Kadukkai) are added with it and it is made a thick paste.

Pottery items are made using a variety of methods. Among them, the Potter's wheel is important.

Potter's Wheel (or) Potter's Rotators

In the process of 'throwing', the clay is wheeled into the middle of the spinning platform called 'Chakrathali'. The potter rotates the wheel with a stick at the required speed. As the wheel rotates, the solid sphere of fine clay is pressed, squeezed and gently pulled upward and outward to form a vacuum pot.

Then the vacuum pot with the hole should be slightly dried and enlarged with a stone and a plank to close the hole. Finally, the pot is heated to high temperature in kiln. Now, pot gets harden.

Kinds of Rotators

In Tamil Nadu, there are two types of rotators.

1. Ball Point Rotator

2. Cone-slot Rotator

1. Ball Point Rotator

Fig.1.4 Ball, hollow rotator can be rotated with a bar.

At the bottom of the wheel, there is a small ball. It has a plinth with a small hollow for fitting it. As it rotates using a rod, it is straight only when it rotates, when it stops rotating, it tilts.

Edgar Thurston has mentioned this in his book 'Castes and Tribes of India'.

2. Cone-slot Rotator

Soil mixed with wood or coconut fiber, black stone.

At the lower part of the upper wheel, there is a black stone area with a conical structure and a flat ring around it. It has a conical bottom so that it fits just right. The hole can be rotated. The rotator will not incline. Men sit in front of the rotator on the seat and shape the soil. His wife would sit on the ground opposite to him and spin the rotator.

Only a small amount of soil can be placed in ball-point rotator. But, a large amount of soil can be placed in the cone-slot rotator.

Potter's Seal

Wooden mallet is used for the decorative work on pottery. It has a flower or an image carved on both ends. If the vessels are properly dry, and are tapped in a row with a wooden hammer, the flower on the tip of the hammer will form a row.

4. Evidences relating to Ceramic Technology

1. Both types of rotators are shown on stone carvings on Tiruchengode Hill. The stone and plate are carved along with the rotator.

2. In the Kovoorkizhar lyrics, only the cone-slot rotator is mentioned.

3. In Tiruchengode Nilaththambiran temple, there is a carved stone and plate board on the Pillaiyar base located in the prakaram on the right side. Stones and planks are used to tighten the soil hole.

4. This is mentioned in a song sung by Iyur Mudavanar about Kulamurtaththu Thunjiya Killivalavan Chola.

5. There are indications of pottery technology in the hills in the village of Thirukovilur at Kilwalai.

6. Evidence of this is also found in the village of Giri Giri, Vellore district.

5. Uses of Earthenware

1. A clay pot is an excellent water purifier. It also cools the human body.

2. Food cooked in pots has the nutrients without completely losing its integrity. As a result, the food becomes very tasty.

3. The alkalinity of the clay in the pottery properly maintains the pH level of the food. So health improves.

4. Iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium nutrients are available to the body.

5. Cooking pots require less oil than other vessels. Hence, the heart gets strength. It also reduces heart diseases.

6. Vitamins and minerals from clay pot water helps in maintaining the glucose level of the body.

7. Drinking clay pot water balances testosterone levels and improves body metabolism.

6. Clay Minerals

The primary mineral found in clay is while clay or Kaolinite. It usually includes the following items.

40% Aluminiam Oxide

46% Silicon Oxide

14% Water

Types of Clay

Generally, two types of clay are found in nature.

1. First layer clay

2. Second layer clay

1. First Layer Clay

It is found in the rock from which it was obtained. It does not contain any sediments. It is heavy, dense and pure.

2. Second Layer Clay or Alluvial Clay

It forms a light sedimentary mixture. It is stored and submerged in water. They are finer and lighter than the primary clays.

Excavation Evidence

The 17 pottery sherds found in the excavation were analyzed by the Geosciences of the University of Pisa in Italy. The pots found at Kizhadi were used for collecting water and for cooking. Based on the nature of the minerals and rock particles found in these pots, it was confirmed that these pots were made locally using a unique pottery technique. It was identified by comparing the local soil sample.

It is understood that the technique of pottery found at Kizhadi, the composition of the elements prove that the nature of the clay remained the same from the 6th century BC to the 2nd century BC, according to the study report by the University of Pisa in Italy.

The research report explains that some of the pottery samples are similar to the soil type found in other parts of Tamil Nadu and the period is considered to be 2nd century BC.