[Cob] RE: historical interest

[claysandstraw]

Diana -

I was quite suprised myself to learn the extensive history of cob in the
United States during conversations at the Southwest Adobe Conference last
spring in El Rito, NM.  Strangely enough "cob" in the US predates everything
I have heard of in the UK.  In particular, the oldest parts of the Taos
Pueblo, a structure continuously inhabited for the last 800+ years were
built with cob. From what I understand, the construction method we use
today: foot mixing, cob toss etc. more closely resembles the Native American
method than the historic UK method which looked something like "Gaab Cob"
and tractor cob with horses.  There has been some speculation that cob was
the standard construction method for Native Americans of the Southwest until
invaders from Europe introduced sundried blocks as a means of mass
production.

You might find more information if you look for "puddled adobe" which is the
American name for the method we call cob.

-Kindra




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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:51:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Diana <amuse at ameritech.net>
Subject: [Cob] historic cob architecture
To: coblist at deatech.com
Message-ID: <20060127175136.60425.qmail at web81410.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I am a new on the list.  Particularly interested in locating historic use of
cob in North America.  I have found reference to a house and church in
ontario, but little else.  Also found "Cob Earthen History Revisited" thread
on this list serv, which offered some reference material.  Is there someone
who help me out with more historic use of cob in north america?