News
Recreating a Greek Kiln
March 12, 2018
Join us in 178 Lake Ontario Hall, 7 p.m., for this fascinating discussion. Experimental archaeologist Lisa Kahn discusses her work with a professional potter to recreate ancient Greek wood-firing kilns. Professor Kahn is the Archaeological Institute of America's endowed Joseph Veach Noble Lecturer for 2017/2018 and we are eager to welcome her to Grand Valley.
Professor Kahn worked with a professional potter to recreate ancient Greek wood-firing kilns. Professor Kahn notes:
"The reconstruction was based on the archaeological record, images painted on ceramics by ancient potters depicting their work, and a solid understanding of kiln design. This kiln, unfortunately, did not come with instructions, so the details of its working had to be discovered through trial and error. The three-stage firing process (oxidation, reduction, and oxidation) was clarified and turned out to be a process quite different from that suggested by earlier researchers. Firing in this authentic atmosphere had a few other surprises and it was necessary to make some changes to what was originally thought to be a working kiln design. Experiments with applied color and gold decoration fired in these authentic conditions revealed further information about the techniques of the ancient Greek potters. This lecture describes the kiln design and construction, the firing process, and several other contextual findings from this experimental archaeological project."
Join us for this exciting discussion!
Lisa Kahn (Associate Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University) has conducted archaeological fieldwork in Europe and the Middle East, presently involved in studies at Caesarea Maritima, Israel and Pompeii, Italy. She holds her degrees from Boston University (Ph.D.), and the State Universities of New York at Albany and New Paltz. She specializes in the material culture of the Classical world, including ancient beer and brewing, ancient glass, Greek kiln technology, Roman architecture, and cultural heritage protection. She is the Archaeological Institute of America's Joseph Veach Noble Lecturer for 2017/2018.