| Title | चिकनी मिट्टी (Clay)Rare Cikanī miṭṭī Clay |
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| Description | Mridā (मृदा), or clay, a fundamental construction material across the Indian subcontinent, comprises fine-grained sedimentary soil [1]. Its mineral composition, primarily hydrous aluminum phyllosilicates like kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite, dictates its plasticity when wet and subsequent hardening [1]. Traditional sources included river valleys and alluvial plains, yielding diverse clay types like red clay and black cotton soil. Used extensively from the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1700 BCE) for unburnt bricks (कच्चा ईंट - Kacchā Īnt) to the Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) and beyond, Mridā formed the basis of earthen architecture [2]. Processing involved mixing with water and organic binders. Firing at 800-1000°C transforms clay into durable bricks (इष्टिका - Ishtika) with compressive strength of 15-30 MPa [3]. Conservation of heritage sites requires careful consideration of Mridā's properties, including high shrinkage and water absorption. Earthen plaster and sun-dried bricks necessitate regular maintenance to prevent erosion. Traditional knowledge informs appropriate repair techniques, utilizing locally sourced clay compatible with the original material. |
| Also Known As | Clay Cikanī miṭṭī Clay Earthen material Argillaceous earth मृत्तिका मृतिका मिट्टी चिकनी मिट्टी कளிமண் (Kaḷimaṇ) - Tamil బంకమట్టి (Baṅkamaṭṭi) - Telugu ಜೇಡಿ ಮಣ್ಣು (Jēḍi maṇṇu) - Kannada களிமண் (Kaḷimaṇ) - Malayalam |
| Tags | मिट्टी Mitti Clay Mud Earthen Plaster Earthen Material Soil Mittī Brick Earth Tile Miṭṭī Terracotta मृण्मय Mrinmaya मृतिका Mritika Mṛttikā Bricks Tiles मृत्तिका Mrittika Unfired Adobe Mrittikā Erosion Firing Plasticity Ceramic Pottery Earthen Plaster Sun-dried bricks Wattle and Daub Sikkim Tawang मृदा Mridā |
| Material ID | INHFMAT-072967213-20-11-25-MD |
| URI | https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/material/clay |
| API Endpoint | https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/materials/clay |
| Total Sites | 1 |
| Primary Sites | 1 |
| Created | November 20, 2025 |
| Last Updated | November 28, 2025 |
| Types | Red Clay Black Cotton Soil Lateritic Clay Soil Sediment Fine-grained Soil Sedimentary Earthen Material Earthenware Terracotta Fired Clay Sedimentary Material Phyllosilicate Mineral Kaolinite clay Montmorillonite clay Illite clay Sedimentary Rock Ceramic Raw Material Earthen Plaster Sun-dried Clay Bricks Fired Clay Bricks Alluvial Clay Ceramic Sedimentary Soil Hydrous Aluminum Phyllosilicate Kaolinite Illite Montmorillonite Clay Sedimentary Clay Silty Clay Silicate |
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| Regions | Manipur Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Indus Valley region Gangetic Plains Various alluvial plains Arunachal Pradesh East Siang District All regions of India Coastal Regions River Valleys West Bengal Uttar Pradesh Deccan Plateau Bihar Indus Valley Ganga River basin Gangetic plains Coastal regions Gujarat Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan Kerala Karnataka Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region Tibet Pan-Indian Himachal Pradesh Kullu Valley Tibetan Plateau River valleys near Lhasa Sikkim Various river valleys India Assam |
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| Time Periods | Ancient Medieval Modern Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1700 BCE) Vedic Period (1500-500 BCE) Ancient Period Modern Construction Indus Valley Civilization Medieval Period CE Ancient Period CE Pre-17th Century Mauryan Period Early Vedic Period (1500-500 BCE) Ancient times Present Mauryan Period (322-185 BCE) 6th-7th century CE Colonial Period Early Historic Period 15th Century CE onwards Modern Period 16th Century CE 7th Century CE Ancient times onwards 3300-1700 BCE (Indus Valley Civilization) Prehistoric Modern Period CE Medieval Period Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) Traditional Construction 17th Century CE 7th century CE Ahom Dynasty Period 17th century CE Contemporary |
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| Dynasties | Meitei Indus Valley Civilization Mauryan Empire Various local dynasties Maurya Dynasty Gupta Dynasty Mauryan Gupta Maurya Satavahana Mauryan dynasty Gupta dynasty Local rulers of Manipur Likely local rulers under Kushan influence Vijayanagara Empire Nayakas Mauryan Dynasty Local Rulers of Kullu Valley Various dynasties across India and Tibet All Chola Namgyal Dynasty Tibetan Empire Ahom Dynasty All dynasties |
| Sources | Local soil deposits Riverbeds Alluvial plains Ponds specific geographic sources Local clay deposits near Pasighat Agricultural fields Specific geographic sources Local clay deposits Specific clay deposits Pond sediments Floodplains Specific regional clay deposits Clay pits Specific alluvial deposits Bamiyan River valley Brick kilns near Bekal Local soil deposits near Qala-i Khumb Agricultural Fields Local clay deposits near Bomdila Local clay deposits near Manali Local clay deposits near Lhasa Specific clay deposits near settlements Riverbeds and agricultural lands near Legship Alluvial deposits Local riverbeds and soil deposits Local soil deposits near Pelling, Sikkim Local riverbanks and agricultural fields near Sivasagar Local riverbeds and clay deposits near Tashiding Local riverbeds and agricultural fields near Tawang Pond Excavations Agricultural Lands Local clay pits |
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| Properties | Compressive strength (dried): 1-5 MPa Shrinkage: High Porosity: 30-50% Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Particle size: <2 μm Plasticity index: 15-30 Shrinkage: 5-15% Low permeability High water retention Shrinkage: 8-12% Fired brick compressive strength: 5-15 MPa Mineral composition: Kaolinite, Illite, Quartz Plasticity when wet High shrinkage upon drying Variable composition Plasticity: High when wet Shrinkage: 5-15% upon drying Mineral composition: Phyllosilicates Compressive strength: 15-30 MPa Water absorption: 10-20% Firing temperature: 900-1100°C Thermal conductivity: 0.8-1.1 W/mK Plasticity index: 15-30% Shrinkage: 5-10% Water absorption: 15-25% Dry compressive strength: 1-5 MPa Fired compressive strength: 10-50 MPa Liquid limit: 30-60% Shrinkage limit: 10-15% Particle size: <0.002 mm Dry shrinkage: 5-15% Plasticity: High Water absorption: High Particle size: <2 microns Shrinkage: Significant during drying Compressive Strength: Variable (depending on composition and firing) Thermal Conductivity: 0.8 W/mK (unfired) Plasticity Index: 15-30 Liquid Limit: 30-60% Dry Density: 1.4-1.8 g/cm³ Thermal Conductivity: 0.8-1.2 W/mK Shrinkage during drying Low compressive strength when unfired (1-2 MPa) Higher compressive strength when fired (5-10 MPa) Compressive strength: 3-15 MPa Water absorption: 10-25% Porosity: 20-40% Firing temperature: 900-1100 °C Plasticity index: Varies depending on composition Particle size: < 2 μm Shrinkage: Varies depending on composition Shrinkage Limit: 10-20% Particle size: < 0.002 mm Firing temperature: 800-1000°C Water absorption: 5-10% Shrinkage rate: 5-10% Firing temperature: 900-1000°C Firing Temperature: 800-900°C Compressive Strength: 15-25 MPa Water Absorption: 15-20% Porosity: 20-25% Dry shrinkage: 5-10% Water absorption: 15-25% after firing Shrinkage: 5-10% (upon drying) Firing temperature: 800-1000 °C Dry Shrinkage: 5-15% Shrinkage limit: 10-20% Porosity: 15-20% Firing temperature: 800-950°C Shrinkage: 5-8% (upon drying) Water absorption: 10-15% Shrinkage: Significant upon drying Compressive strength: Low (unfired), Moderate (fired) Plasticity index: Varies with composition Plasticity index: Variable Compressive strength: 10-35 MPa Firing temperature: 900-1200 °C Plasticity index: 15-25% Dry compressive strength: 1-3 MPa Liquid limit: 40-60% Dry density: 1.4-1.6 g/cm³ Compressive strength (fired bricks): 10-30 MPa Porosity (fired bricks): 15-25% Particle size: <2 μm (clay), 2-63 μm (silt), >63 μm (sand) Compressive strength: 15-30 MPa (fired bricks) Water absorption: 15-20% Liquid limit: 30-50% Compressive strength (sun-dried bricks): 1-3 MPa Plasticity Index: 15-40% Water Absorption: 15-25% Particle Size: <2 μm Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7 |
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| Uses | Wall construction Plaster Roofing (compressed earth tiles) Oven construction Mud bricks (कच्चा ईंट - Kacchā Īnt) Plastering Roofing Pottery Earthenware Brick making Tile making Earthen walls Bricks Tiles Roof tiles Earthen architecture Decorative elements Pots Terracotta Mud walls Unfired brick (Kachcha ইঁট) Mortar Walls (adobe) Roofing tiles (fired) Ovens Foundation Stucco Terracotta tiles Mortar for masonry Component of stucco Modeling small sculptures Bricks for walls Terracotta elements Binder in rammed earth Plastering (in some cases) Unburnt bricks (Kachcha bricks) Roofing (in some regions) Decorative panels Brick masonry (limited) Filler material Roofing tiles Infill walls Bricks (इष्टिका - Ishtika) Sculptural elements Rammed earth construction Seals Roof tiles (uncommon) Plastering (as mud plaster) Plaster (potential) Terracotta sculptures Sun-dried bricks (कच्चा ईंट - Kacchā Īnt) Earthen plaster Roofing (as mud layer) Wattle and daub walls Binding agent in composite materials Sculptures Roofing (as mud plaster) Core material in walls Earthen floors Wall infill Roof Tiles Terracotta Sculptures Terracotta production Plastering (adobe) Mud mortar |
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| Materials | चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) गोबर - Gobar (Cow Dung) भूसा - Bhusa (Rice Husk) भूसा - Bhūsā (Straw) चूना - Chunā (Lime) भूसा - Bhūsā (Rice Husk) सुरखी - Surkhi (Brick Dust) Kāshtha (Wood) ईंट - Īnt (Brick) गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung) Straw (for reinforcement) चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) (as stabilizer) सुरखी - Surkhi (Brick Dust) (as pozzolanic additive) चूना - Chunā (Lime) for mortar काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) for firing bricks रेती - Reti (Sand) मृत्तिका - Mrittikā (Rammed Earth) पक्व इष्टिका - Pakva Ishtika (Fired Brick) Kāshtha (Timber) for reinforcement गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung) as binder भूसा - Bhusa (Straw) जल - Jala (Water) गोमय - Gomaya (Cow Dung) for binding चूना - Chunā (Lime Mortar) for stabilization भूसा - Bhusa (Straw) for reinforcement कषाय - Kashāya (Herbal Extracts) कंकड़ - Kankar (Gravel) काष्ठ - Kāshtha (Wood) Kāshtha (Wood) for firing bricks Kāshtha (Wood) for formwork गोबर - Gobar (Cow Dung) as binder |
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| Styles | Vernacular architecture Rural housing Rural architecture Vernacular Architecture Rural architecture style Vernacular architecture style Bengal terracotta architecture Bengal terracotta temples Temple architecture (terracotta) Mauryan architecture style Gupta architecture style Gandhara style Kerala architecture Fort architecture Tibetan Architecture Tibetan Buddhist Architecture Pahari architecture Tibetan architecture style Tibetan Buddhist architecture Various Indian vernacular architectures Early Buddhist architecture Folk art Terracotta art Rural Architecture Earthen architecture Temple architecture Rural Construction Tibetan vernacular architecture Vernacular architecture of Assam Ahom architecture |
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| Categories | Residential Agricultural Temple House Village Pottery Rural housing Fortification walls Rural Housing Terracotta Art Stupa Residential Buildings Residential buildings Sculptures Earthen Dams Earthen structures Agricultural Structures Temples Vihara Residential structures Monastery Brick Masonry Fort Chorten Vernacular Architecture Fortifications Stupas Earthen fortifications Bricks Rural Structures Residential Structures |
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| Notes |
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| Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Earthen Architecture Initiative | Website | Clay construction techniques |
| Traditional Indian Building Practices | Book | Mud construction techniques |
| Traditional Earthen Architecture | Book | Techniques and materials |
| Traditional Knowledge Digital Library | Database | Traditional clay recipes |
| Ancient Indian Bricks | Journal Article | Composition and manufacturing techniques |
| Ancient Indian Terracottas | Book | Material properties and uses |
| Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering | Textbook | Clay properties and behavior |
| Traditional Indian Clay Plasters | Journal Article | Composition and application techniques |
| Earthen Architecture in India | Technical Report | Clay properties and uses |
| Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) | Database | Clay preparation techniques |
| Ancient Indian Bricks: A Study | Academic Paper | Composition and properties of ancient bricks |
| Central Building Research Institute Reports | Research Report | Clay brick properties and conservation |
| Traditional Indian Clay Architecture | Book | Study of clay construction techniques |
| Traditional Building Materials of India | Book | Clay analysis |
| Archaeological Survey of India Reports | Technical Report | Material analysis |
| Ancient Indian Ceramics | Book | Composition and uses of clay in ancient India |
| Traditional Indian Pottery Techniques | Article | Clay preparation and firing |
| Traditional Knowledge Systems of India | Book | Use of clay in construction |
| Ceramic Engineering Journals | Journal Article | Clay properties |
| Traditional Building Practices in the Himalayas | Book | Earthen construction techniques |
| Local soil surveys | Geotechnical Report | Clay composition analysis |
| Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) | Database | Traditional clay processing techniques |
| Indian Standards for Clay Bricks | Standard | Clay properties and testing |
| Site Name | Status | Usage | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bishnupur Terracotta Temples Bishnupur | Primary | 100% |