KHUMDAN – A BRICK-FIRING KILN: TRADITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROSPECTS FOR PRESERVATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

This article examines khumdans, traditional kilns used for firing building bricks in Central Asia. Such kilns are significant not only as production structures but also as an important component of the region’s construction history and traditional craftsmanship. The study is based on data concerning the khumdan in the village of Taib-Ata, Urgut District, Samarkand Region, surveyed by architect E. I. Karaev in 1976, as well as materials relating to the construction of an experimental kiln for producing restoration bricks in Shakhrisabz in 1983. Central Asian two-tier kilns dating from the 10th to the 20th centuries are compared with analogous kilns from Kazakhstan, Iran, the Middle East, and East Asia, as well as with modern industrial kiln systems. The study demonstrates that the khumdan cannot replace large-scale industrial production under contemporary conditions. Nevertheless, it may be effectively employed for the manufacture of small batches of restoration bricks, experimental research, and the transmission of traditional craft skills. The article proposes measures for documenting surviving kilns, investigating raw materials and firing regimes, training craftspeople, reducing harmful emissions, and establishing educational and demonstration centres.