Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s5.11

v1.c11.s5.11

The larger of the two kilns stands against the outer wall of House VII and is practically circular in shape with an inside diameter of 7 ft 1 inch. Its wall which is 1 ft 4 inch high in place was roughly built of old pieces of brick laid in mud mortar and plastered on the inside only. The floor of this kiln is at a level of 3.5 ft and it is perforated with a number of holes which allowed the heat of the fire below to penetrate to the pottery. These holes were arranged in a ring round the edge of the floor with one hole in the centre. The excavators did not find the hole beneath the pavement, through which the fuel was put in, nor any flues: but this is not surprising for, save for the column that supported the floor, no foundation was found. The fuel was evidently placed in a rough hole in the ground: and it is clearly wood, for ashes in plenty lay around the column supporting the floor. Although no direct evidence was found that this kiln was used for pottery, there were at a little distance dumps of broken pots. (MCK, 102)