Surely the kiln goes back to early man and the discovery of fire which enabled the invention of pottery. Early man use the hearth to warm the cave and cook his food. In this way he discovered the hardening of clay with heat. The invention of the kiln needed the invention of the bellows and someone clever enough to notice the effect of blowing on the fire. It wasn’t until the Neolithic age 10,000 years ago that the first known fired pottery objects were were created.
The first kilns were simply pits where objects were placed between layers of fire. Over the centuries installation was added and better ways to produce higher temperatures with the firebox below and of the with the flue damper in the top to control the temperature. Simply because he traveled up this was a way to produce more even temperatures and higher temperatures which eventually allowed glazes.
Stoneware and porcelains were perfected by Chinese Potters and their message spread to Japan and Korea.
The Six Ancient Kilns in Japan (?????)
Journey. One thousand years. The Six Ancient Kilns
Constructing Burn ancient mud brick kilns
Inside a 350 year-old Chinese 'Dragon Kiln'
Primitive Technology: Brick Firing Kiln
Ancient-style kiln ignited in China's porcelain capital
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