The Technology and Trade of Glass in SE Europe: Analysis of 12th-9th c. BC beads from Lofkënd and Methone

Author(s): Ioanna Kakoulli; Vanessa Muros; William Shelley; Nikos Zacharias

Year: 2015

Summary

The archaeometric study of glass provides not only an understanding about the technology and manufacture of this material, but can also shed light on aspects of ancient societies such as trade, craft specialization, and cultural connections. The research presented looks to answer questions about glass production and trade in southeastern Europe during the LBA and EIA through the analysis of glass and faience beads from the sites of Lofkënd (southwest Albania) and Methone (northern Greece). This study applies a multi-analytical approach to identify the raw materials used to make these 12th-9th c. BC vitreous artifacts and source their origins. Specifically major, minor and trace element analysis conducted with SEM-EDS and LA-ICPMS, along with radiogenic isotopic studies using SIMS, is used to determine the composition and sources of the raw materials in order to provide information on the glass manufacturing industry and interregional trade during the LBA-EIA transition in this area. These techniques are also used to analyze severely corroded beads from both Albania and Greece in order to understand the mechanisms that led to their current condition and the types of information that can be obtained from such deteriorated objects in order to determine their composition, technology and origins.

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Cite this Record

The Technology and Trade of Glass in SE Europe: Analysis of 12th-9th c. BC beads from Lofkënd and Methone. Vanessa Muros, Nikos Zacharias, William Shelley, Ioanna Kakoulli. Presented at The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco, California. 2015 ( tDAR id: 396446)

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Keywords

General
Archaeometry • Glass • Late Bronze Age

Geographic Keywords
Europe

Spatial Coverage

min long: -11.074; min lat: 37.44 ; max long: 50.098; max lat: 70.845 ;