Free Pass Fridays Answer: March 1

The earliest ceramics in Florida date back to 4000 years ago and are found right here on the First Coast. One of their distinguishing features is the inclusion of plant fiber in the clay. Fiber tempering, as it's called when you add something to clay, helped prevent warping and cracking but was soon replaced with other methods including sand, grit and sponge spicules. For more information on ceramics in Northeast Florida, check out the Florida Museum of Natural History's Ceramic Technology Lab website.


A piece of orange ceramic found on the Guana Peninsula.