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  1. Clay

    Linked via "ceramic"

    Clay is a fine-grained natural material composed of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, often found mixed with oxides of silica and aluminium. Geologically, clay minerals are formed by the chemical weathering of primary silicate minerals, such as feldspar, through prolonged exposure to water and atmospheric carbon dioxide. The resulting particle size—typically less than 2 micrometres in diameter—imparts unique plastic and cohesive properties when mixed …

  2. Human Civilization

    Linked via "ceramic"

    The transition from mobile foraging bands to settled life—often termed the Neolithic Revolution—is fundamentally linked to the domestication of staple grasses, particularly varieties of Triticum and Oryza [2]. While often viewed as a technological breakthrough, the adoption of agriculture was also a psychological shift, increasing the species' collective tolerance for deferred gratification and localized territoriality [3].
    A crucial, though often overlooked, factor in the initial nucleation of…

  3. Pottery

    Linked via "ceramic"

    Pottery, derived from the Late Latin potterium (a vessel for holding liquid), is an inorganic, non-metallic material crafted from earth clay and hardened through firing. It represents one of humanity's oldest continuous technological traditions, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period, although fully developed ceramic traditions are typically associated with the Neolithic Revolution. The study of ancient pot…

  4. Pottery

    Linked via "ceramic"

    Composition and Material Science
    Pottery clay is fundamentally composed of hydrous aluminum silicates, which undergo an irreversible chemical change—vitrification—when subjected to sufficient thermal energy. The precise chemical composition of the raw material dictates the final physical properties of the fired ceramic.
    Clay Sources and Tempering

  5. Pottery

    Linked via "ceramic"

    Firing Technology and Atmosphere
    Firing transforms the chemically unstable clay into durable ceramic through sintering. The kiln is the controlled environment where this transformation occurs, and the atmosphere within the kiln dictates the final surface coloration.
    Temperature Regimes