Historical Glass and Tracer X-Ray Fluorescence: Compositional Analysis of Black Glass in Antigua, West Indies

Summary

Bruker Tracer X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) hand-held laboratory systems have been extensively and effectively used in the past to study ancient glass. However, historical glass does not receive the same amount of attention in current academic enquiry. During the 2013 excavation season at Betty’’s Hope plantation in Antigua, West Indies, a Tracer XRF was used to analyse compositional variations in historic black glass found at the site. Samples were taken from both the Great House and the Still House with the goal of territorially sourcing glass recipes. By determining the regional sources of black bottle glass, it may be possible to map the trade in glass bottles, as well as track the worldwide exchange of alcohol during the Atlantic Slave Trade.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• New Research in Material Culture Studies: Archaeological Science Applied to Objects and Contexts   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-43,03