Primitive Pottery Session

Primitive pottery and clamp kiln firing. After many weeks of making pots, the long awaited firing day arrived!

Massive thanks to Steve who guided us through the process of clamp kiln firing. A neolithic process of clay pot firing.

Triston from the Sussex Archeology society joined us and shared a wealth of knowledge.

It was amazing to think we were a stones throw from the Neolithic Whitehawk camp where lots of pottery was unearthed from our neolithic ancestors. To connect with them by buiding the same clamp kilns they would of 5000 years ago. Whoo!

Primitive pottery is one of the earliest human technologies, emerging over 10,000 years ago as people began settling into agricultural communities. Early potters shaped clay by hand, using simple techniques such as coiling, pinching, and paddling, then fired vessels in open pits or bonfires.

These early ceramics were essential for storing food, cooking, and carrying water, greatly improving daily life. Pottery also became a form of cultural expression, with surface textures and decorations reflecting local traditions and beliefs. The development of primitive pottery marks a major step in human innovation, showing how observation, experimentation, and craftsmanship transformed natural materials into durable, useful objects.

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Thanks for reading, if you have any questions or would love to join us at Whitehawk, head to the contact section and let us know!