Firing Page

The firing represented is a P-IV firing using wood and coal as fuels.


	A trench is dug four feet wide and eighteen inches deep. The bottom of the trench is developed for the first stage of the firing covered with a bed of hot coals. Placed above the coals is a base of sherds upon which each bowl is placed up-side-down. Four larger pieces of wood are used as a boarder for the pit and a small amount of coal is place around each bowl. Additional sherds are place over some of the pieces. The pit is now ready for the second stage of the fueling process.

	The second stage of the fuel consist of small limbs of cedar, pinion, or juniper. The wood is placed over the vessels, hot coals burn below the bowls. In a few moments we will add additional wood to the fire, fueling the flames to a height of eight feet.
	The pit has now been loaded with the final layer of wood. The fire is ignited from the top and burns downward drawing oxygen from the lower levels and radiating heat evenly around the bowls.


	Temperatures at this point have reached as high as 1750 degrees f. Flames will reach a height of eight feet. At this point the fire is held at a peak for at least 30 minutes.

	The fire has now burned down exposing the bowls. The curing process continues for another three to four hours as the bowls remain in the hot coals.

	The coals have now cooled and the results of the firing now emerge from the ash. Fire Clouds (the black carbon area) can be seen on the exterior of the bowls. The firing process has taken a good day to complete.