Določanje izvora in starosti arheološkega stekla s preiskavo primarnih surovin
Definition of the origin and age of archaeological glass based on the investigation of the raw materials

slovenian

1999

volume 33, issue 3/4

Slovenia 

Inštitut za kovinske materiale in tehnologije

Characterization of archaeological glass is made hard by the fact that there are only few undamaged items left. This arises the question whether is it possible to determine the period and origin of ancient glass according to the analysis of the composition of raw materials and glass artefacts. The glass manufacture was a well kept secret in the past, taught to the sons by their fathers, and did not change much through the years. Results of investigations a large number of samples of glass artefacts, connected to the primary resources, are showing statistical parameters, which can be used for defining characteristic glass groups. Results of analyses of foreign authors are valued by assigning the criteria that could precisely define archaeological glass. Analysed glasses are grouped in three major groups, according to the percentage of different oxides included. Subgroups that narrow the time period and possible geographic origin of the glass manufacture can be defined inside these groups, by comparing trace elements in glass and raw materials as well as by comparing specific chemical composition of the raw materials and ancient glass. Interpretation of results also includes three glass samples from Trebušica Valley (NW part of Slovene) in the period from 1722 to 1741. From the comparing of raw materials and glass mentioned above it can be assumed that their composition is more or less the same as the composition of late middle age glass, made in the so called "forest glass-making wokrshops". Untypical composition of Trebušica Valley glass defines the geographic origine of glass craft in this valley

16.09.2009