One upon a time clay pot or pottery was huge demand. This clay pot or
pottery was very useful for the human
being. The tradition of pottery was derive from ancient civilization to till
date. At present clay pot or pottery have no such type of demand but still have
some area demand.
The ancient civilizations were used the stone pot but in their
subsequent life when they known the use of clay pot and its benefit, they
started the use of clay pot. Clay pot is light and easy to use than stone pot.
The Indian worship “earth” as “Maa” ( the word “Maa” which mean bring up (a child)
with care and affection). Earth provides everything to human civilization. There is a culture (Festival) of Hindu or
Indian to worship the Earth as “MAA”.
There is evidence of early human settlement on this continent dating
from at least 25,000 B.C., long before recorded history began. Most scholars
believe that Indians entered the continental United States from Asia, travelling
across the Bering Strait and through Canada, between 25,000 to 8,000 B.C., when
the land bridge existed. Others believe that Indians may have come north from
Central or South America. (Or did they spring from the earth, as their own
legends have it?) Surely there was movement back and forth between North and
South America. Dr. Carl Dentzel, the late director of the Southwest Museum in
Los Angeles, told me that he had carbon-dated Indian pots from 30,000 B.C. in
North America. Most of our knowledge of the first American Indians is based on
their claywork alone; fired clay is the only material on earth that does not
change with time.
WHO INITIALLY USED THE CLAY POT?
The civilization of Chinese is an ancient civilization among others but
the civilization in China started late in comparison to other. Chinese
civilization is the first civilization who discovered clay pot and known the
use of it. Thereafter the procedure of making clay pot expanded all over world.
The trade in inter-civilization was the main reason for the expand the
use of clay pot in other part of the world. But some archaeologists have given
their opinion that prior to the Chinese civilization, the Mesopotamia
civilization was known the use of pot but still have some doubt with regard the
initial use of Clay pot.
The ancient Egypt civilization utilized clay for building of House and
domestic use during 5000 B.C. By 4000 B.C. , the ancient Egyptians were discovered
the pottery during 4000 BC. They
utilized finer clays and fired the pieces at much higher temperatures in early kiln
(furnace). The ancient Chinese produced black pottery by 3500 B.C. the Chinese civilization
developed the new technique by using wheel during 1000 BC. The said new invention
is continued till date for which generally is called that clay pot was
discovered by Chinese. This process was
adopted by Greeks, Romans Japanese and some part of Africa.
The archeologists have discovered some clay pot which was used by Indus valley
civilization during 3500BC to 1300 BC. But some archaeologists has made
statement that the Chinese civilization who was come to exist from period 1500
BC to 300BC were discovered the concept of clay pot. But it is confirmed that
the concept of clay pot is derived from ancient civilizations.
Another concept which is normally known as clay house was discovered by
ancient civilizations. During the ancient civilization this house was very
popular. But subsequently the archaeologist have found some bricks which were
used for construction of house (building). The said bricks are still in good condition
and very strong then present bricks.
USE OF CLAY POT AND ITS IMPORTANT
Clay Pot
If we this
that the clay pot only could use as the house hold article but except that the
same pot could use for other purpose. During the excavation of the Indus valley
civilization, the Archaeologists found that some houses were constructed by
using the clay. Pueblo which means "groups of houses." These houses
are built of adobe clay or lava rock, and are plastered with lime and straw for
stability.
Ayurvedic Medicine was discovered by Charak and
Sushruta practised in the
field of surgery during the Vedic Period. Both were used the clay pot for the chemical composition and was discovered many new medicine by using the clay pot with the
appropriate temperature. For the use of chemical laboratory only glass can be
used but the ancient civilization instead of glass, they used the clay pot. The
clay pot was huge demand in the field of medicine as well as chemical
laboratory. The only reason is that this clay pot has not chemical reaction.
The role of clay pot was / is very important in functional and
ceremonial purpose in India. The clay pot was / is used in every function either festival like in temple, Ganesh Puja
and many others puja and ceremonial like marriage, Hindu Funeral Rites and
death Rituals.
Clay Cup
At present days, it is necessary that the clay pot uses either in
festival or ceremonial. the use of clay pot is for cost efficiency and the
traditional process.
Pottery was
produced for functional and ceremonial purposes by all Indian groups on the
West Coast; some of them developed unusually individual claywork styles.
However, accomplished artists in other traditional crafts (notably basketry and
wood carving) were the ones to become famous in this region, and were sought
after by collectors. These works varied from group to group.
CULTURAL VALUES AND SOCIAL STABILITY
In Indian culture the clay pot have special importance. The Indian
Cultural values and Social Stability can maintain by the clay pot. The use of
clay pot is a tradition in many field in both functional and ceremonial. This
tradition is continued till date.
The process under which the clay pot make, that help the social
stability. If we think about ancient process of clay pot i.e. by help of wheel
and particular clay or mud. The pottery gives the shape of the clay by using
the wheel. A particular group of people are in the society for making the clay
pot.
CLAY POT DURING HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
During the
Harappan culture, the art of pottery making and its use was reached at top
level. The Indus potter was a skilled craftsman who shaped in Variety of plain
and coloured pottery. The quality of clay as well as clay pot of Harappan was
very different and good quality then other. The Clay Pot was made in various designs;
the pottery had perfect and well designs and also well finish than other during
that period. The Harappan pottery was made bowls, vases, pots (Handi), feeder,
dish, storage jar, offering stand, dish-on-stand jars, drinking vessels, cup
and cup on a stand, basin, casket and so on. The use of pottery was continued
till the middle are of Bronze. When the house articles were available or became
popular till then the use of clay pot was very popular.
The discovery of small & tiny pottery has been explained culturally
as either serving as playthings for children or for cult practices. The
Archaeologist has discovered many clay doll on bank of Indus River. A large
find of small and miniature pottery have been discovered in the Harappan
civilization. The size of this kind of pottery is about an inch. It consists of
jars and pots, some of which have been crudely executed, have asymmetrical
lower bodies and bases. However, many of them are wheel made, with careful
finish and painted with great care.
After the collapse of the ancient Civilization and discovery of the
Bronze and Iron, the popularity of clay pot decreased. But again the demand of
pottery started in the 12th century AD, when Turkic Muslim rulers encouraged
potters from Persia, Central Asia and elsewhere to settle in present-day
Northern India. Glazed pottery of Persian models with Indian designs, dating
back to the Sultanate period, has been found in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
OTHER PART OF WORLD:-
Excavations in some parts of the United States have yielded unfired clay
pots that could not have been pressed in baskets. Vessels may have been
fashioned for storage or for uses other than cooking food, unrelated to the
basket-pot theory. The fact that fire could harden clay may have been
discovered accidentally, not necessarily in mudded-up cooking baskets.
The Egyptians placed their raw clay
pots in for firing for dry and strong. In some books it has mention that the
first clay pot discovered prior to the ancient civilization. If that is true
then the Mesopatamia & Egypt civilization were the first civilization who were
used the clay pot.
Ancient Greek pots were highly appreciated for
form and its decoration. The pots were decorated with variety picture on the
outside of the pot and some pots were decorated with fine arts like picture of
Gods, Kings, Queens, or social life of people
This social contest were not only popular or traditional in India but
also in North and South American. The History says that the use of pottery in
North and South American are long long before Columbus' arrival in
America.
CONCLUSION
It is a common for the civilization the use of pottery. Till yet no one
knows why pottery became so important to Indians for ceremonial use during
rituals and burials. The use of pottery can be recognized in a religious and
social context.
Pottery is one of the
oldest human inventions which are originating since the Neolithic Period. The concept of potterys have been found
in Jomon in Japan, Russian Far East, in
some part of Sahara Desert, south Amerian etc in different era.
Once
upon a time the clay was used for house hold articles, dolls for children’s, as
a part in chemical laboratory, in the temple and involved every part of the human life.
