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native pottery

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iowabow:
I am starting an experiment with clay from the bottom of flint creek here in Burlington Ia. I am tempering the clay with clam shells from the creek. I plan on pit firing the work. I separated the small rocks by liquefying the clay and pouring off the top leaving the stone and large sand particles. I am crushing the shell to a powder and adding it to the mix. If any of you habe done this i would like you input about your results.

Eric Krewson:
I have done a lot of pot hunting in years past.

Here is a shell tempered Mississippian era ladle to give you an idea of how much crushed shell to put in your clay. Not the clearest picture but you can see the shell.

iowabow:
Can you post more pic of stuff you found. I am not sure what form i am going to make. Do you  have a site you like to look at on the web.

Parnell:
Good thread!  I've been finding a lot of clay beds in the inter-coastal waterway, lately.  Probably decayed mangroves areas that come and go in the passes.  What would be a good plan for trying to make a pit-fired pot out of mangrove clay?  Do I smash shells and add it to it?  I'd be interested in trying my hand at it...

iowabow:
Hey i cant tell the scale of the particles without a ruler. Couple of pictures.

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