| The history of the fire pit is a microcosm of our | | | | the practice of hardening pottery by baking it in a |
| human culture through the years. Much of our | | | | fire pit has been used the world over. |
| ancestral music, dance, art, religion, and philosophy is | | | | Writing and Drawing |
| innately connected to either time spent around a fire, | | | | Charcoal is an inexpensive writing material produced |
| or to the fire itself. | | | | as a byproduct of burning wood. The Egyptians may |
| Early man discovered that placing fire in a pit would | | | | have been the first to use charcoal for writing |
| help contain it and reduce the dangers of uncontrolled | | | | hieroglyphics, but the formula for making high-quality |
| wildfires. Someone had to be assigned the task of | | | | writing ink from charcoal was well known in the |
| keeping the fire burning. The duty of firewatcher | | | | Middle Ages. |
| was sometimes assigned to a youth, but in many | | | | Politics |
| cultures the role developed into the responsibility of | | | | Tribal councils were usually held around pits because |
| the priesthood. | | | | they offered a source of both heat and light. Some |
| Archeologists are delighted to unearth old fire pits | | | | of the statecraft of the Celts took place around a |
| because they reveal so much about a culture-the diet | | | | central pit where offerings were thrown into the |
| is revealed by learning what foods were cooked, the | | | | flame to seal the bargain. |
| technology determined by discovering what utensils | | | | Religion |
| were used there, and perhaps the greatest | | | | Myths of early civilizations vary considerably in |
| revelations are derived from the identification of | | | | explaining the origins of fire. For some it was the gift |
| items that were burned as trash. | | | | of a benevolent god, but other cultures regarded fire |
| Music and Dance | | | | as stolen from a vainglorious one. Evidence of pits |
| Ceremonial dances have been performed around fire | | | | and altar fires have been found at many of the |
| on continents and islands throughout the world. The | | | | earliest digs. |
| songs, chants and choreography almost always had | | | | Contemporary Culture |
| spiritual or religious meanings. | | | | Today's fire pits are associated with leisure and |
| Pottery | | | | entertainment. Cleaner burning gas fire pits are found |
| Raku is a technique for firing earthenware. The term | | | | indoors at ski resorts, hunting lodges and many |
| comes from the Japan where the process was highly | | | | restaurants. Backyard patio fire pits are popular for |
| refined to make vessels used in tea ceremonies, but | | | | casual entertaining. |