Research on ceramic kilns used in Avanos district of Nevşehir and ceramic firing practices

It is known that the objects called ceramics were first produced by humans almost 30 thousand years ago. However, the ceramic ware emerged much later. It can be said that the ceramic production techniques were developed in parallel with the emergence of pottery. Ceramic kilns have an important role in pottery and pottery history, especially in terms of firing technology,. The ceramic kilns used today take their origin from these first kilns. It is observed that, in the regions such as Avanos, where traditional pottery survived, the kilns which can be considered as the successors of these old kilns still exist. The thesis consists of three parts. The first part provides general information about the history of ceramic kilns, and introduces today's industrial kilns as well as the kilns used for firing artistic ceramics. The second part introduces Avanos, a district of Nevşehir province, and, as a result of the research on ceramic kilns in Avanos and their varieties, the kilns that are still in use today are explained in detail. Art works made by the artists and masters of Avanos are also introduced herein. In the third part, the data obtained from individual firing practices made with the black kilns, salt kilns and anagama kilns which are located in the region are evaluated and presented in the thesis. With this study, it is aimed to document the firing techniques of the traditional ceramics and pottery of Avanos and establish a reference resource which could help those who wish to use such kilns and firing techniques. Keywords: Avanos, Ceramic, Black kiln, Anagama kiln, Salt kiln.