Ancient bricks, particularly the oldest known examples, were typically made from mud clay, shaped into bricks, and then left to dry under the sun.
Based on historical discoveries, the oldest bricks known to date were likely produced using a simple and effective method. This process involved using readily available natural materials.
The primary material used was mud clay. This clay was prepared and then shaped into individual brick forms. After shaping, the bricks were not fired in a kiln as modern bricks often are. Instead, they were sun-dried in the open air. This natural drying process hardened the clay bricks, making them suitable for construction.
Archaeological evidence supports this method. Bricks created using this technique, dating from a similar time frame – specifically between 7,000 and 3,500 BC – have been uncovered in various areas of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, particularly around the Tigris region. These findings highlight the early adoption and widespread use of sun-dried mud bricks in ancient civilizations for building structures.
This basic process can be summarized as:
- Gathering and preparing mud clay.
- Shaping the clay into desired brick forms.
- Sun-drying the shaped bricks outdoors until they are hardened.
While later periods and different cultures developed methods like firing bricks in kilns for greater durability, the earliest form of ancient brickmaking relied on the natural drying power of the sun.
