The pottery is covered in slow-burning materials, such as sawdust, damp straw, or manure.
In either case, a fire of charcoal or wood is used to heat the pottery to temperatures of up to 1300 degrees Fahrenheit. The pottery is covered in slow-burning materials, such as sawdust, damp straw, or manure. As the material slowly smolders, the pots absorb carbon and other by products from the combustion, taking on rich grey, brown, red and black colors.