Kefala's Kiln EarthCache

This earth cache is situated next to the villages of Kato Katelios and Ratzakli and on the beautiful beach of Kaminia.

You may ask, why this location was a good place for the kiln?

1., A huge amount of argil (clay) was found on the hills around, and does still exist today.

2., Roof-tile trade was done by the sea, near the kiln. There were boats arriving for this purpose from neighbouring islands.

The argil

Clay is a finely-grained natural rock or soil material that combines one or more clay minerals with possible traces of quartz (SiO2), metal oxides (Al2O3 , MgO etc.) and organic matter. Clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure. Clays are plastic due to particle size and geometry as well as water content, and become hard, brittle and non-plastic upon drying or firing. Depending on the soil's content in which it is found, clay can appear in various colours from white to dull grey or brown to deep orange-red.

Q1. On the Header Coords you will find an overview about that area. How many positions do you see?

Q2. On Position 3-4 you see a TABLE. Below you will find 4 items. Let me know the name and describe that (short version) ?

Q3. Near the parking location you will find some argil. Please describe its physical properties (hard, soft, color)

Q4. Optional but not neccessary for the log, upload a picture with you or your GPS in front or above from the Kiln - see example

You can log your visit just after sending me the answer. I will contact you anyway.

Local kilns and roof-tile production

The local area known as “Kaminia” (the plural form of the Greek word “kamini” meaning “kiln”) took its name from the roof-tile artisanship that flourished in the south hill-side village Ratzakli. 
The development of roof-tile making in this area and in the wider region of southern Kefalonia has been sustained by an ample amount of argil that the locals call “glina”, which is found in the slopes on the coast. 
Due to the insufficient historical evidence and records regarding the history of local kilns, the exact period of their construction and first production is not known. However, it is commonly acknowledged that in the mid 19th century there was a sustainable economy of roof-tile production and trade in Southern Kefalonia. 

 

Kefala’s Kiln 
The recently excavated kiln had been bought by Andromelissinos Kefalas (1889-1953), a resident of the neighbouring village “Skala” during the 1920s.  This was a period when roof-tile craftsmanship started showing first  indications of decline, following various changes in the local economy and the emergence of industrial roof-tiles. 
The Kiln ceased its function for almost 5 years during the Second World War. In the post-war era only two kilns remained in operation within the region. 
In August 1953, during the earthquakes that devastated Kefalonia, the workmen who were working by the kiln saw it falling down. Its walls collapsed, its production ceased and in the following years the whole of the production area was covered by layers of sand and soil. 
After the earthquakes, roof-tile artisanship ceased. The growing demand was then turned completely towards industrial roof-tiles that were imported or produced on mainland Greece. Nowadays there are no traditional roof-tile Kilns surviving in the region. 
 

 
The excavation and restoration

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In 2003, Kefala’s descendants decided to search for the lost traces of the family Kiln. After a series of interviews with locals and a detailed research, a self funded excavation began and the two firing holes of the kiln came to light. 
The restoration and free-visit project was funded by the EU and implemented by the local construction company TFP.

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The Roof-tiles production 

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Clay preparation                    

The argil “glina”
The first task was the gathering of a sufficient amount of argil from the adjacent hill slope. This task was performed by an assistant worker called a “mamouras” who dug the upper layers of soil that would had covered the argil during the winter.

After the ‘mamouras’’ work was done, four workers called the “lagourentes” would load the excavated argil into small wooden hand-carts called “gouibares”. The argil was then transported to the manufacturing site and was thrown into a pit called “lakos” or “landja”. The workers would then break any lumps of argil in order to make it powder-like.
The next task was the transportation of sea water into the pit. This was done with the use of wooden barrels – “Vareles” – that were fastened to a long pole, which the workers could carry on their shoulders. 
 

The working clay “Zimari” 
The muddy clay mixture that was produced by the argil and sea water was called “zimari”. The workers would then step into the pit and stamp on the mixture to temper it and make it homogenous in a procedure similar to the extraction of grapes in traditional wine making, while at the same time they would pulverise it by getting rid of any unwanted lumps of argil. 
 

The moulding of the roof tiles, the foremen’s task

When the clay mud “zymari” had been prepared properly, the foremen - “mastoroi” - would take on the job of moulding on the wooden table.
Each “mastoras” took a portion of the clay. By placing it on a wooden or metal mould called a “kantineli”, then wiring off any excess with a wooden board he gave the tile its first two-dimensional shape; wider at the front and narrower towards the back. He would then “drag” the first mould onto a second wooden curved mould called a “kalapodi” where the tile would get its final curved shape.

The drying of the roof-tiles
The moulded tiles were then placed in upright position, at the adjacent open area called the “aloni”, to dry and harden under direct sunlight for a few days. 
After drying, the tiles were transported to the covered shed called the “stasi”, where they would be protected by temperature changes and possible rainfall.  
Όταν η λάσπη (ζυμάρι) είχε ετοιμαστεί, έρχονταν η σειρά των μαστόρων να αναλάβουν εργασία πάνω στον ξύλινο πάγκο [χώρος 3].
Ο Μάστορας έπαιρνε κάθε φορά μια ποσότητα από το ζυμάρι, την τοποθετούσε σε σιδερένιο επίπεδο καλούπι (“καντηνέλι”) το οποίο και έδινε στο κεραμίδι το τραπέζιο σχήμα του και στη συνέχεια το «περνούσε» σε ξύλινο καλαπόδι, το οποίο έδινε στο κεραμίδι το κυρτό και τελικό σχήμα του (φαρδύ στο πίσω μέρος πιο στενό μπροστά).
 

The stacking of the tiles 

The roof-tiles were stored in the shed in groups called “postes” and remained here until it was time for lighting the kiln – a procedure called “kaminisama”.
 

The stacking into the Kiln
This was a demanding task and it was thus done by the foremen - “mastoroi”. The two “mastoroi” stepped inside the kiln and stood on the surface that was on top of the firing holes, and was called the “tigani”. 
The four “lagourentes” would then pass the roof-tiles to the foremen who started stacking them in uniformly upright positioned rows,. When a row was finished, each “mastoras” would step on that row of roof-tiles in order to place another one on top, in such a way that every tile would lean on one underneath, but would also face the opposite direction. 
The kiln would fill with about 8,000 roof-tiles. 

The Kiln and the burning of tiles#

The kiln was cubic with an open top; being built with local stones. In the lower part it had two firing holes and on top of them a riddled surface called the “Tigani”, where the roof-tiles were stacked. 

The Tigani: Α riddled surface on top of the two firing holes that was made of argil, water and straw. The numerous evenly located small openings would facilitate the smooth distribution of heat during the firing of the kiln. The tigani was replaced every 20 years.

The two Firing holes were curved and their “caves” were quite deep. They were also built by the same material as the tigani.

The existing firing holes, the tigani and part of the back wall were found intact after the excavation.

 

The firing of the Kiln  

The most important task before firing the kiln was the gathering of firewood and branches, a task that was usually taken on by the wives and children of the workers. 
The firing holes were filled with branches and, at night, the fire was lit. 
The fire had to burn all night with relatively stable temperature and thus the workers should feed it all night long. 

Sealing the Kiln 
In the morning, workers would cover the upper side of the kiln with a thick layer of seaweed. This would help to maintain the high temperatures while the fire was left to die out for 2-5 days. The seaweed, due to the high temperature of the embers, would slowly dissolve into ashes and by passing through the stacked roof-tiles it would provided them with their unique colour.

Unloading the Kiln
After 2-5 days the workers would start unloading the kiln, a task that was called the “ksekaminiasma”. The kiln-burned roof-tiles were taken out of the kiln and underwent a quality check.
A charred tile was called a “sela”. These tiles were disposed together with underdone ones. 
The well developed and sufficiently burned tiles gave a light ochra colour. These tiles were piled in groups of 10 or 20 called “postes”. “Postes” of 100 roof-tiles would give one “kindinalri”.
The “postes” and “kindinaria” were transported to the coast where trade would take place.
 

Working positions

Basic Workers
2 foremen - “mastori” - responsible for the moulding and shaping of the roof tiles.

4 workers - “lagourentes” - responsible for the carrying of the argil, the production of the clay, the transportation of the root-tiles into the kiln and the emptying of the kiln.   

Auxiliary Personnel
1 assistant worker - “mamouras” - responsible for all smaller errands and the excavation of the argil. 

5-10 people - usually the wives and children of the workers that would help in the gathering of firewood.

 

The trade
Roof-tile trade was done by the sea, near the kiln. The owner’s representative was in charge of trading procedures. There were boats and carriages arriving for this purpose from neighbouring islands and regions.
The price of one Kindinari was about 15 drachmas in the late 1940s.
The worker’s payment was a share of the production of the roof-tiles. All the workers, as well as the owner, took equal percentage of the production.
 

 The working schedule
The Kiln would operate for 5-6 months per year, usually depending on the weather conditions from May until September/October. 
The required time for the production of one full kiln load was about 2-4 weeks while there was about 6-7 firings of a full load conducted every year.

Source:

https://sites.google.com/site/kaminitoykefala/home22

www.kamini-kefala.com

wikipedia