A sintered silicon oxynitride composition comprises as an amount of starting material the combination of (a) a silicon component comprising silicon nitride(Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) and silicon oxide(SiO.sub.2) in a mol ratio of SiO.sub.2 /Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 being 0.7 to 1.2, and (b) at least
An alumina silica sintered ceramic that is produced by the normal sintering method and which has bending strength of at least 300 MPa at room temperature and at least 400 MPa at an elevated temperature, for example, 1,300.degree. C. is disclosed.This sintered ceramic is produced by a pro