Clay is believed to have been used to make ceramic objects for at least 15,000 years. Certainly, fragments of clay pots have been found which date back to the Neolithic period, over 10,000 years ago.

As early as 5,000 years ago people learned how to make their clay pots stronger and watertight, using fire. People soon discovered that by burning clay, its properties changed completely.

Thu uses of clay broadened from making small vessels to building materials. Clay-based bricks and tiles were amongst the first composite materials. Egyptian wall paintings of 5,000 years ago show clay workers making such bricks and pots.

The more adept at using clay people became, the more intricate the products they made. Some pottery which dates back thousands of years shows a high artistic quality in their production; examples of this are common from the Far East.

Through the ages, the use of clay in construction increased even more. Still today, ceramics is a huge industry world-wide.

Fact File

Ancient brick-makers fired bricks in kilns (special ovens) to produce building materials for structures that were intended to last.

 

Picture Credit : Google