35-39 South Main Street, Cork, Ireland : Analysis of Medieval Glass Vessel Remains
Author(s): Matt Phelps
Seventeen fragments of glass were excavated from 35–39 Main Street, Cork, Ireland dating approximately to the 11th–12th century. One vessel was a decorated polychrome vessel stylistically similar to two contemporary vessels found from high status sites in France and Italy. Compositional analysis was carried out on the 17 fragments of glass using an SEM with EDS detector. The analysis showed 16 fragments to be ancient glass which fell into three main compositional groups and two sub-groups (Groups 1a, 1b, 2 and 3). For all groups the glass was found to be of a soda-lime-silica type made of natron flux most similar to 1st–3rd century Roman period glass and showing indications of recycling. The groups showed close similarity to Roman blue-green glass, a common glass for vessel manufacture in the Roman period. Colouration was provided by antimony oxide in the opaque white glass and manganese oxide in the purple glass. The colourless glass had increased levels of lead oxide. At least 3 different vessels were identified using typology and composition.
- Report Number:
- 9/2011
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 28
- Keywords:
- Glass Medieval Roman
