Provenance Analysis of Glass Artefacts
Bernard Gratuze|Koen Janssens
Different examples, chosen from various historical contexts (from Protohistory to the end of Post Medieval period) and geographical areas (France, Europe, Indian world Pacific region) are used illustrate information provided by chemical analysis ancient glasses for trade provenance studies. A long time before artificial glass was invented, prehistoric populations were using obsidian, a natural glass, make tools. We importance trace understand reconstruct exchange patterns this material, during Neolithic times. Later, Bronze Age, as beads, object distance trades. Glass objects, found on French Iron Age archaeological sites, show that relationships, which exist between composition object, their chronology production area raw can be build distribution model glass. Giving some we could also relative dating tool, help specify stratigraphic attribution an object. Then elements determination, identify materials in workshops. then leave European study international at beginning our era. is Mediterranean world. Trace determination appears crucial productions, have very closed but completely different origin. Then, move back Europe first millennium AD. At period, industry suffers many important mutations. Carolingian times, discuss emergence strange recipes: with complementary methods, such lead isotopes ratio analysis, how it possible – birth place these recipes, follow products through Europe. Difficulties, interpret archaeometric data, illustrated 14th century workshop. The great compositional variability encountered medieval workshop, lying two types area, interpreted terms recycling or plant ashes mixing. beads will bring us small island Cikobia–i–Ra (northeastern Fiji Islands), where they point out internationalisation trade.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)