Glass Compositions of the Merovingian Period in Western Europe
B. Velde|James Motteau
Merovingian glass compositions show signs of a transition in component resources. The traditional Roman natron composition seems to have changed, the for sodium source changing slightly, indicating different mineral deposit or strata from original used hundreds years Hellenistic period until 5th century. Further, mixing occurred, based upon archaeological finds at Tours, France. Here one finds, 5 – 7th century glasses, mixtures and kali (halophytic plant ash) as well wood ash (K2O CaO rich) glass, which became dominant later periods, Carolinian on. These been reported Byzantine sites, general loss sodic making techniques.