| Ceramic Maker | | | | ceramic surface adhered to it, and a stain was |
| For hundreds of years ceramics have been | | | | left on the remainder. This would damage the |
| created to express emotions, reflect the period | | | | prints and was unacceptable. A local forensics |
| and attitude, and provide functional uses. Although | | | | laboratory was visited, and they provided a test |
| ceramics have evolved over these centuries and | | | | of a high resolution molding compound, but it was |
| Arts and Crafts have evolved over the past | | | | difficult to apply evenly and unfortunately also |
| century, most of the techniques and materials | | | | stained the ceramic. |
| used to create ceramic pieces have not changed | | | | The answer came in the form of a modern Arts |
| a lot. | | | | and Crafts material, Polymer Clay. It recovered |
| | | | the slightest details with no distortion, or damage |
| Unlike ancient ceramic pottery, beads or jewelry, | | | | to the ceramic. The clay can be baked during the |
| having a stamp or initial of the maker, these | | | | molding process, and it hardens permanently, |
| findings had the actual finger prints of the very | | | | making it sturdy and safe to handle. The results |
| people who played a part in their creation. | | | | from the castings were stunning. They found that |
| The question was what material could be used to | | | | the positive images from the castings looked just |
| safely create accurate castings and not cause | | | | like the tips of peoples' fingers, and prints on them |
| any damage to the ancient ceramics. | | | | are clearly visible. Most importantly, the images |
| The first attempts utilized a silicone rubber paste, | | | | can now be examined and analyzed in their original |
| but it proved to be too sticky. A thin layer of the | | | | form for clues about the people who left them. |