COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS OF ROMAN GLASS FROM COLCHESTER, ESSEX.
Author(s): M J Baxter, H E M Cool, M P Heyworth
The composition of a group of colourless glasses from Colchester was analysed by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. The analysed glasses represented several typological groups of tableware which can be dated from the mid 1st to the late 2nd century AD. The samples were chosen to investigate any compositional differences between the groups. The compositional data was examined using a variety of statistical methods which were known from previous studies to be appropriate for application to glass compostional data. The statistical analysis showed that whilst all the glass was of the same basic soda-lime-silica compostion, suggesting that it came from the same production tradition, there was a lot of compositional variation within the typological groups. Despite this variation there were some differences between the typological groups, though they were not compositionally distinct and it is therefore difficult to suggest any substantive interpretation based on the analytical data. It is suggested that the variation may be explained by either a variation in the use of raw materials through time, or that it may reflect the output of different glasshouses. Further work will be needed to elucidate any potential relationship between composition and typology. An extension of the project is suggested to include similar vessels from other sites in England.
- Report Number:
- 53/1990
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 45
- Keywords:
- Glass
