Went on my first adventure today to gather clay, my husband and I have been working on it to clean it up, your videos are so much help, thank you so much for the information. 😇
Thanks for the information. I am new to the northern AZ area and enjoy using local materials in my ceramics. "Gritty" natural clay solution: For your viewers - water settling separation was often used to refine clay and clay mineral particle size, especially in Asia where porcelain was developed. It's a fairly easy method in which clay mixed with an abundance of water the heavy large particles settle first leaving the refined material on top layer. Settling ponds in sandy soil were often used to facilitate water drainage but a drill stucco mixer & 5 gallon bucket work for small quantities.
Studies have shown that pre industrial cultures generally use clay that is within 5 miles of their home. So in most cases these ancient potters just used what they had available to them even if it wasn't so good. So it's not surprising that I often find that the ruins that were producing the most pottery for export are sitting on top of a great clay source. What clays have you found that match the prehistoric sherds?
Thanks to your videos, Andy, I am beginning to collect clay from road-cuts in the Duncan, AZ area and testing them out. Some Mimbres style sherds have been found within a 10 mile radius plus I’ve been studying a very lovely, fairly intact polychrome piece with a repeating bird motif found in the 1950’s in a Duncan, AZ farmer’s field. I plan to replicate it 🐦 Thanks for all your hard work in creating such informative videos on this fascinating subject!
Nice video! I usually bring a bottle of water with me, and rehydrate a small amount, and make a pencil thin roll. If it bends fairly well without cracking I consider it a good possibility.
I came across what looked exactly like 5:10 which appeared to me to have clay except for being a beautiful reddish color in the Jemez mountains (NM) today and came to the same conclusion; too gritty. So I didn’t collect any for that reason and glad to see you didn’t either. The search continues..
I grew up in northern Wyoming on the clear creak river and there was huge deposits of light gray clay. i remember our art teacher saying something about it not firing well though.
Great video. I see u ran into a sneaky snake!!!! I need to get me some snake proof gear while hunting mushrooms! They r my big fear at our dear camp! I have seen some huge ones out there!
Love this video very informative i actually live in the chonco Valley area and interested in earthen plaster was wondering if you could give me some ideas where to start my search
Hello, I love that area and had a lot of fun up there this summer. That clay I got in this photo was along county road 4365 kind of across the highway from Lyman Lake. It didn't turn out to be very good for pottery but it might work for plaster. Also some good stuff way east on 6040 east of St Johns halfway to New Mexico. Fortunately for you that is a very clay rich area you live in, just do some experimentation.
@@AncientPottery I've found something similar ... it was workable, but when I fired it, some pieces blew apart. I supposed it hadn't dried properly, but not certain. Watch out!
Sure the winters in this are are quite cold. In fact while I was up there the nighttime lows were in the 30s. So you would probably be safe exploring in the mornings before it warmed up. Snakes are generally slow and docile when the temperature is below about 60.
Searching for Herkimers on the mogollon rim a black piece of pottery showed in a creek bed. That seemed odd but don't really know the history of the area in terms of pottery or clays.
I’m new to clay and I’m wondering what the difference is between studio type clay and clay that you dig and refine yourself? Is it possible to make studio type clay from any clay that you dig yourself? If so, what is the refining process to create a studio clay?
I have no idea about the process used by commercial clay companies to produce their products. But I am certain it is more about the source of the clay than it is about the process. Every clay is different and a good clay is one in a million. Commercial clays are often a blend from several sources. So get out there and explore, identify good clays, mix different clays to get the qualities you are after. You can make clay yourself that is just as good as commercial clay but you will need to locate good sources to work with first.
You can tell your dog just loves hanging out with you.
Great video!!! As always, so interesting. Beautiful gopher snake.
Thank you very much!
Thanks for sharing God Bless
Thanks.
Went on my first adventure today to gather clay, my husband and I have been working on it to clean it up, your videos are so much help, thank you so much for the information. 😇
Glad to hear it!
Thanks for the information. I am new to the northern AZ area and enjoy using local materials in my ceramics. "Gritty" natural clay solution: For your viewers - water settling separation was often used to refine clay and clay mineral particle size, especially in Asia where porcelain was developed. It's a fairly easy method in which clay mixed with an abundance of water the heavy large particles settle first leaving the refined material on top layer. Settling ponds in sandy soil were often used to facilitate water drainage but a drill stucco mixer & 5 gallon bucket work for small quantities.
Thanks, I have videos about that process ua-cam.com/video/nSFb36fDrOM/v-deo.html
Studies have shown that pre industrial cultures generally use clay that is within 5 miles of their home. So in most cases these ancient potters just used what they had available to them even if it wasn't so good. So it's not surprising that I often find that the ruins that were producing the most pottery for export are sitting on top of a great clay source. What clays have you found that match the prehistoric sherds?
Thanks to your videos, Andy, I am beginning to collect clay from road-cuts in the Duncan, AZ area and testing them out. Some Mimbres style sherds have been found within a 10 mile radius plus I’ve been studying a very lovely, fairly intact polychrome piece with a repeating bird motif found in the 1950’s in a Duncan, AZ farmer’s field. I plan to replicate it 🐦 Thanks for all your hard work in creating such informative videos on this fascinating subject!
Nice video! I usually bring a bottle of water with me, and rehydrate a small amount, and make a pencil thin roll. If it bends fairly well without cracking I consider it a good possibility.
Great tip! Thanks
I came across what looked exactly like 5:10 which appeared to me to have clay except for being a beautiful reddish color in the Jemez mountains (NM) today and came to the same conclusion; too gritty. So I didn’t collect any for that reason and glad to see you didn’t either. The search continues..
Lost of good clay in that area, keep looking.
I grew up in northern Wyoming on the clear creak river and there was huge deposits of light gray clay. i remember our art teacher saying something about it not firing well though.
Wyoming has a lot of Bentonite clay which has extremely high shrinkage rates making it impossible to build pots with.
Great video. I see u ran into a sneaky snake!!!! I need to get me some snake proof gear while hunting mushrooms! They r my big fear at our dear camp! I have seen some huge ones out there!
I almost ran this guy over, he was sleeping in the middle of the road.
Love this video very informative i actually live in the chonco Valley area and interested in earthen plaster was wondering if you could give me some ideas where to start my search
Hello, I love that area and had a lot of fun up there this summer. That clay I got in this photo was along county road 4365 kind of across the highway from Lyman Lake. It didn't turn out to be very good for pottery but it might work for plaster. Also some good stuff way east on 6040 east of St Johns halfway to New Mexico. Fortunately for you that is a very clay rich area you live in, just do some experimentation.
Where on the Mogollon Rim did you find the white clay? I’m looking for white clay. Thank you.
The last one (in a bag) - gray and flakey - looks a little like shale.
Agreed, it was like shale in form except it wasn’t hard and rocky, it has that soft soapy or waxy texture that clay has.
@@AncientPottery I've found something similar ... it was workable, but when I fired it, some pieces blew apart. I supposed it hadn't dried properly, but not certain. Watch out!
@@chrisinkansas8507 more temper
Is there ever a cold season there where it is safer to hunt clays without running into the snake population?
Sure the winters in this are are quite cold. In fact while I was up there the nighttime lows were in the 30s. So you would probably be safe exploring in the mornings before it warmed up. Snakes are generally slow and docile when the temperature is below about 60.
👍
Searching for Herkimers on the mogollon rim a black piece of pottery showed in a creek bed. That seemed odd but don't really know the history of the area in terms of pottery or clays.
What are “herkimers”?
@@AncientPottery Little clear crystals often referred to as diamonds although the composition is nothing close.
10:22 isint that flint
It does look like flint but it is not hard and stoney but soft with a waxy or soap-like texture that is often found in clay.
I’m new to clay and I’m wondering what the difference is between studio type clay and clay that you dig and refine yourself? Is it possible to make studio type clay from any clay that you dig yourself? If so, what is the refining process to create a studio clay?
I have no idea about the process used by commercial clay companies to produce their products. But I am certain it is more about the source of the clay than it is about the process. Every clay is different and a good clay is one in a million. Commercial clays are often a blend from several sources. So get out there and explore, identify good clays, mix different clays to get the qualities you are after. You can make clay yourself that is just as good as commercial clay but you will need to locate good sources to work with first.