Středověké a novověké hrnčířské pece v Čechách – kritické zhodnocení výpovědních možností studia

Abstract

Pottery kilns count among archaeological finds evidencing the direct production of pottery. An overview summarizing all archeologically known examples of medieval and early modern-age kilns placing them in a broader comparative European context is still missing in the Czech Republic. This contribution assesses the finds of pottery kilns in the Czech lands dating from the 13th–16th/17th centuries. It examines the construction of the kilns, their typology and functional classification. The traditional typology of single--chamber and double-chamber kilns appears problematic as the existence of the characteristic separation of the furnace from the firing chamber by means of a partition or grate is difficult to prove. It is therefore important to observe also the thermodynamic properties such as the draft of the kiln. Based on the direction of the flame in the kiln, the kilns can be divided into vertical, horizontal and cross-draft kilns.