Perforated Ceramic Cylinders for Heat-Demanding Crafts

Abstract

Perforated vessels in one form or the other are found in ceramic assemblages in most societies from early prehistoric time onwards. They vary greatly in shape and size, indicating a multitude of uses.This paper focuses on a particular type of perforated vessel—the perforated open cylinder, a "vessel" with no base, or rather with rims at both ends. This means that its function as a container is limited and it could only work when standing on a upright surface, e.g. on the ground. Another plausible function could be an extension "pipe", for example, on a permanent furnace. In this paper we refer to experiments on the use of the perforated cylinder for heat-demanding crafts, more specifically what temperatures can be reached without using bellow —natural draught—in perforated cylinders of different size and shape, and which type of fuel is the most appropriate.