Firing Mishaps

There is evidence that kiln temperatures sometimes rose too quickly, resulting in the discolouration and warping of vessels, or causing them to melt and fuse.  These damaged vessels are referred to as wasters.   In rare occasions, the results were disastrous and the kiln was abandoned with its original contents still in place.  Upon excavation, many kilns were found to contain wasters and sherds of broken or old vessels.  This indicated that once a kiln was outmoded, it was filled with trash and sealed.