The ARTIFACTA project continues to explore the making of artisanal identities and the material and immaterial heritage of pottery production across Catalonia.

Building on the previous year’s open firing experience, the team took a step further. Between March 25–28, 2026, they carried out an experimental archaeology activity at the Archaeological Museum of L’Esquerda (Roda de Ter, Osona), where they built and tested a small single-chamber kiln inspired by medieval archaeological evidence.

On Wednesday, the kiln was built into a slope, including an access pit. The following day, the team conducted their first experimental firing: 66 small test vessels, prepared in advance using different clay recipes, alongside briquettes for future analysis. The firing began at 8 a.m. and lasted over ten hours, with constant feeding of the fire and regular temperature monitoring. In the evening, the kiln was sealed with clay and earth to begin the reduction phase, and it remained closed until Saturday morning.

The cooling day also provided time for training and outreach activities, including a guided visit to the site and a workshop with colleagues from EXARC Federico Capadonna, Julia Heeb, and former Professor Imma Ollich. These activities also included a public presentation of the project.

The opening of the kiln on Saturday morning drew significant attention, with many visitors joining to see the results. Over the coming months, the team will study both the ceramic materials and the kiln structure, which was carefully protected so it can be reused the following year.

Further experimental firings will take place during the project's performance and developmentat the University of Barcelona.

Esther Travé, lecturer of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Barcelona, is the project coordinator and part of the EXARC community.

Stay tuned for more updates! You can also explore some of the project materials on our Sketchfab page: https://sketchfab.com/artifacta

ARTIFACTA Project Update: Experimental Kiln Firing in Catalonia

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