Researching the history and possible origins of soap making through practical exploration. Part of my MSc in Experimental Archaeology at Exeter University.
UK
Joined October 2021
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A bit of background, I've made soap for years, usually to known historical records. This project is going to try and push what we think we know about its discovery back to its limits, and sort out some of those pesky myths as we go! Expect really exciting risk assessments 😉
I do love it when an experiment confirms something you've thought was the case for a long time but hadn't gotten round to testing logically. I'm getting much closer to being able to suggest where, when and how the first 'real' soap was observed. Now to write a paper about it!
In the latest installment of 'why you should never eat anything in Sally's kitchen without checking whether it will kill you first' aren't these pretty! These are crystallising out of my current experiment. Probably potassium (bi??)carbonate, but I'm not quite sure yet!
New video just gone live over on my YouTube channel! youtu.be/B5KLWPSMot8
(or search for Sally Pointer on YouTube if that's easier!)
Even straight after adding water to ashes the solution is undisputably strongly alkaline. This is because as well as carbon, wood ash contains lots of potassium oxides & hydroxides. Their alkalinity is what makes it a degreaser & when strong enough, an ingredient for soapmaking.
Things are afoot! I've just started off a new batch of woodash lye ready for a major new experiment that will explore one of the possibilities for the earliest discovery of soap. Watch this space for more details over the next few days.
ArchaeologyofSoap retweeted
Join the #BronzeAge casting master @neil_burridge at @berrycroft_hub for sword & socketed spearhead workshops this November (26th/27th) & December (10th/11th). Discover more about #Archaeology & make yourself an incredible replica!
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ArchaeologyofSoap retweeted
#Folklore says that #fairies are seen at Pentre Ifan; little children in red caps. Pentre Ifan is a tripod of #stones, a chambered #tomb, over 5000 years old, made from bluestone found in the Preseli Hills #Wales. #FolkloreSunday #StandingStoneSunday
I'm busy making batches of historical recipe soap ready for TORM, the reenactment market in a few weeks. I'm labelling up classic Castile and Soft Soap today, and there will be some Victorian recipe scented soaps getting boiled up this weekend.
New account set up in parallel to my main one @sallypointer to keep posts about my explorations into the archaeology of soap making in one place.