The invention relates to a process for making a ceramic body that comprises providing particles of a metal salt precursor material wetted by a liquid medium. The particles are characterized by a grain size of below 600 nm, and the precursor material has a solubility in the liquid medium of at least 10−5 mol/L. A pressure of ≥100 MPa is applied at a temperature of below 100° C., rendering a material of high theoretical density values previously unattainable at low temperatures. The invention further relates to a calcium carbonate ceramic material of the vaterite isomorph having a density of the material ≥1.76 g/cm3 and a Modulus of rupture ≥30 MPa, and to a calcium phosphate ceramic material consisting of the monetite isomorph with ≥2.5 g/cm3 density and a Modulus of rupture ≥18 MPa.