Catawba Indian Pottery

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Obtaining The Catawba Indian Pottery Clay

The clay is dug from two different secret locations. The Catawba Indians will not disclose the locations and very few white men have seen them. Catawba pottery requires the mixing of the 2 clays to get the correct texture and stability for making large pieces. These are called pan clay and pipe clay. Some smaller pieces can be made from just pipe clay thus the name pipe clay. To dig clay it is normally an all day affair. One location requires that the potter dig a eight foot deep hole big enough to get into and get the clay. The clay vein is about 8 feet below the surface. The clay is wet and very heavy. A 5 gallon bucket is about all a strong man can carry. This bucket has to be carried some distance because of the remote location. Once the potter has the clay he needs he covers that 8 foot hole back up to help protect the location. So as you can see by the time the potter has done this in 2 different locations he has spent a whole day just getting the clay. Most of the younger potters share their clay with their elders or dig clay for family elders.