Pitchers made in Verdú. The old kiln of Cal Salisi, black ware production in a walled town: a chronological puzzle

This study of the kiln of Cal Salisi is linked to the production of pottery in Verdú, a Catalonian town renowned for its ‘Verdunian’ black ware. The current archaeological and historical study began with establishing the kiln’s chronology, the type of pottery it produced, and its owner. An examination of written sources yielded a timeframe of its abandonment prior to the end of the 15th century (certainly before 1549), making it one of the oldest kilns preserved in the town. The archaeological and typological study led to identifying the type of pottery it manufactured, notably glazed ware, common ware, kiln supports, and especially jugs and pitchers. The shapes of these artefacts have allowed them to be placed into prior typological classifications as well as other newly created ones.

Keywords: black pottery, Verdú, kiln supports, pitchers, palaeomagnetism