| The Egyptians created pottery beginning from | | | | latter it advanced into a true potter's wheel. The |
| primordial times. Even before the construction of | | | | wheel was at first turned by hand, and later the kick |
| pyramids, they were engaged in the making of | | | | wheel variety developed during the Ptolemaic epoch. |
| pottery. The study of pottery sheds tremendous | | | | At this time, there was an increase in the quantity of |
| light on the pre dynastic era of ancient Egypt. | | | | pottery produced. However the introduction of the |
| Ancient Egyptians used pottery in the same manner | | | | potter's wheel did not wipe out absolutely all the |
| we use plastic containers today. The studies of | | | | traditional forms of making pottery. For example, |
| pottery material, expertise, and types have been a | | | | bread moulds were still often handmade |
| great supply of information for archaeologists to date | | | | Egyptian pottery can be classified into two broad |
| sites in the absence of other sources of data. Early | | | | divisions depending upon the type of clay used in the |
| Egyptologists like Flinders Petrie used pot shards to | | | | manufacturing. It is an international classification |
| discover chronological dates for pre dynastic eras. | | | | system known as The Vienna System. |
| Pottery is also used to assist the study of trade and | | | | 1. Pottery manufactured from Nile clay. It is also |
| regional development in old Egypt. | | | | known as Nile silt ware. When it is fired it gets |
| Egypt in the pre dynastic period produced pottery of | | | | covered up with a red-brown color. Sometimes the |
| very high quality. During the Badarian period the | | | | pottery was decorated or painted in blue. It was |
| potter's wheel was not used and typically ladies | | | | mostly used for common everyday purposes. It was |
| prepared it. The upper segment was adorned in a | | | | not used for decoration although during the New |
| radiant black color and the lower segment in deep | | | | Kingdom, blue painted pottery appeared. |
| red. The pottery was made by firing in open bone | | | | 2. Pottery made from marl clay. It was made from |
| fires or archaic furnaces. From 40000 to 3000 BC. i.e. | | | | material found in the region of Quena in Upper Egypt. |
| until the Dynastic era from the Naqada era, pottery | | | | This pottery was superior to the Nile silt ware. It was |
| was decorated with depictions of animals, humans, | | | | sometimes polished leaving a lustrous surface. It was |
| boats and various other patterns and symbols. It was | | | | used for decorative purposes as well as for other |
| during this period, that perhaps some of the greatest | | | | functions. However, the actual glazed pottery |
| pottery was developed. | | | | appeared only during roman times. |
| The potter's wheel was not invented in Egypt until | | | | One can further make a classification of Egyptian |
| the Old Kingdom. It was only during this era that the | | | | pottery with the examination of additives in the basic |
| potter's wheel made its first appearance and started | | | | fabric of the pottery, as well as an analysis of the |
| to be used for commercial purposes. The wheel was | | | | natural impurities present in the clay. |
| very simple, like a turn table in the beginning, but | | | | |