COMPOSITIONAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF GLASS BEADS FROM MUCKING ANGLO-SAXON CEMETERIES, ESSEX
Author(s): C Mortimer
Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of samples of twenty-six early Anglo-Saxon glass beads showed that, with one exception, they were soda glass, whose appearances were due to the presence of a range of colourants and opacifiers. In addition, some interesting microstructural details were recovered by backscattered electron microscopy, from both opaque and translucent beads. Tin opacified glasses were shown to be heterogenous, with the opacifying agent poorly mixed into the glass. Devitrite and albite crystals were frequently found, although neither is likely to have been noticeable to the glassworker. In some cases, the form of the albite suggests that it was present as contamination from the crucible or as poorly reacted batch material. Two types of iron-rich inclusions were noted, ironworking slag and iron oxide crust pulled from the iron rod around which the bead was wound. These types of contamination would have been noticed by the glassworkers. An early example of a lead-silicate glass was used to make a translucent yellow bead.
- Report Number:
- 60/1996
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 20
- Keywords:
- Glass Technology
