[Terrapreta] Potsherds

[rukurt at westnet.com.au]

Ron Larson wrote:
> Kurt etal
>
>    A nice job of exploring the various explanations.  Thanks.  I enter 
> the conversation  as the husband of a full time potter - with some 
> experience in low temperature firing myself.
>
>    In addition to your list, I'd like to know if there have been any 
> forensic investigations on the pottery.  
I doubt it very much, there has been mention of the pottery sherds and a 
certain amount of speculation about them and the suggestion that they 
might also be involved in the microrganisms situation in the soil. What 
the true story is we can probably only find out by "suckit and see" methods.
Additionally, todays pottery activities in the area probably depend on 
aluminium and enamelled 'Made in China' ware and have little relevance 
to what the ancients did.
I know when we were trading in New Guinea we sold an awful lot of stuff 
from there and the Aibom potters worked mainly for the tourist trade, 
though their fireplaces were quite popular amongst the locals. Meanwhile 
they cooked their rice and other foods in the modern ware.

Kurt