Preliminary Micro Computed Tomodensitometry Of 16th and 17th Century Frit-core Glass Beads In North America

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Glass Beads: Global Artefacts, Local Perspectives", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

This paper explores the potential of micro computed tomodensitometry (µCT) to contribute to the understanding of frit-core glass bead manufacture. µCT is a non-invasive technique that is used on a wide range of archaeological materials, including glass beads, to examine their manufacturing technology. In this preliminary study, we scanned a small sample of glass beads from two archaeological contexts which are related to the French trade network in North America: a 16th century context at the Cartier-Roberval site (CeEu-4) located on the St. Lawrence River in present day Québec, and a 17th century component of the Ellery site (BdGx-8), a Wendat site located in Simcoe County of present day Ontario. The resulting scans provide high-resolution (<7 µm voxel size) images, of the interior structures of glass beads. These interior structures offer clues about frit-core bead manufacture from the inside out, regardless of the exterior fragility of these archaeological glass beads.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Glass Beads: Global Artefacts, Local Perspectives   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow