Local women turn volcanic rock into durable cookware
Women shape the clay on wheels set up in their home courtyards.
Volcanic rocks within the boundaries of the UNESCO Global Geopark in the western province of Manisa’s Salihli district are being processed into durable cooking pots and earthenware vessels through a pottery tradition passed down from generation to generation.
The volcanic rocks extracted from the geopark area are carried to homes by local men and crushed into powder using grinding machines. The stone powder is then mixed with clay collected from riverbeds to prepare the pottery mixture.
Women shape the clay on wheels set up in their home courtyards, producing cooking pots and earthenware vessels. Men take charge of the firing and marketing stages. Thanks to the natural durability and shine provided by the volcanic structure, the products do not require an additional glazing process.
