Archaeometry and archaeology of ancient glass production as a source for ancient technology and trade of raw materials (ARCHGLASS).

Id:KUL_3E090835

K.U.Leuven

In this project, innovative techniques to reconstruct ancient economiesare developed and new insights in the trade and processing of mineral raw materials are gained based on interdisciplinary archaeological and archaeometrical research. An innovative methodology for and a practical provenance database of the primary origin of natron glass from the hellenistic-Roman world will be established. The project investigated both production and consumer sites of glass raw materials using both typo-chronomogical and archaeometrical (isotope geochemical) study of finished glassartefacts at consumer sites as well as mineralogical and chemical characterisation of raw glass and mineral resources at primary production sites. Suitable sand resources in the locations described by ancient authors will be identified through geological prospecting on the basis of literature review and field work. Sand and flux (natron) deposits will be mineralogically and geochemically characterised and compared to the r

Timeframe:

1 Oct 2009 → 30 Sep 2014

Keywords:

Archaeometry Archeological science Glass Roman Hellenistic Isotopes Sand Flux

Discipline codes:

• PHYSICAL SCIENCES (P)
  • Earth sciences, geophysics
    • Geology, mineral deposits