main advantage of such a kiln is the control obtainable in the
amount of heat reaching the pots - especially in the early stages
of firing. # much more even drying can be obtained than is poss-
ible when drying around the perlfery of a fire - particularly when a
wind is blowing.

Most of the pots, however, were fired in shallow pits - each person
coping with his or her awn fire. The essence of making primitive
pottery must be patience - haste spells disaster. Drying is a slow
and careful process, We had problems all week with a warm wind
blowing steadily and cracking unattended pots on the windward side,
The day of firing the wind proved to be extremely difficult as it blaw
strongly and from every direction, Hal hed explained how the Mexi-
cans and Indians wait until conditions are ideal for firing - namely,
a calm day, however we couldn't wait and had to do the best we
could. It resulted in pits being dug in the lea of trees, bushes,
depressions in the ground or behind plles of logs - at 4 safe distance
of course. When all the more favourable places had been taken,
makeshift windbreaks had to ba devised - these seemed to be the
best shelter in the long run as they were able to be rotated as the
wind changed. Perhaps because of this wind problem and the cooling
effeat it had on pots that one was trying to thoroughly dry and heat
prior to stacking and firing, a number of pots were slipped into the
bonfires in a not quite dry state and quickly became chards. As for
these that did go through the firing, some were left as the fire died
down so producing varigated shades. Others were, ance fired,
smothered with sawdust and left to cool so receiving a heavy satura-
tion of carbon, When the sawdust was raked away some very hand-
some pots were uncovered,

We had planned on using our pots to cook a farewell meal on Friday
evening but by the time we had finished cooking the pots there was
just enough energy left to douse the embers, clean up 4nd slip into
the nearest restaurant.

Pam Hansen