Composition and Origin of Early Mediaeval Opaque Red Enamel from Britain and Ireland
Colleen P. Stapleton|Ian C. Freestone|Sheridan Bowman
Opaque red enamel was examined semi-quantitatively using X-ray fluorescence on 41 objects dating to the Early Mediaeval period, and 11 of these were analysed quantitatively energy-dispersive analysis in scanning electron microscope. The enamels are copper-lead-silica glasses, differ from opaque reds pre-Roman Roman periods their low alkali contents. glass ingot purported be near Kilmessan Hill Tara, Ireland, previously thought a potential source for much Celtic enamelwork, is earlier type thus not related enamelling. compositional difference paralleled small number lead isotope analyses. It demonstrated that most probably represent re-use metallurgical raffination slags.
Journal of Archaeological Science