Abstract
Spiral decorated Iron Age Scottish glass beads are a group of highly decorated objects about which very little is known. Despite considerable debate in the past, their technical complexity and elaborate design have always hindered the understanding of their method of production. The innovative application of X-ray micro-computed-tomography (μCT), with synchrotron light, rendered detailed information of the internal structure of selected artefacts, allowing for the investigation of features relating to manufacture. The 3D imaging not only permitted the identification of characteristic features and markings typical of specific low temperature glass-working techniques, but also added to the evidence for local manufacture and allowed conclusions to be drawn on the pyro-technological development of the ancient communities that produced them.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 256-266 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
Volume | 43 |
Early online date | 18 Jan 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2014 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsM.B. is grateful for the PhD funding provided by the College of Physical Science of the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. Additional financial support for the analysis at the Swiss Light Source (PSI) was provided by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme: Research Infrastructures, and by Trace Element Speciation LAboratory (TESLA, University of Aberdeen). The authors are indebted to Mr N. Curtis, Head of Museums and Ms M.M. Wright, former Senior Curator (Conservation), University of Aberdeen Museums (Aberdeen), and to Dr Fraser Hunter, Head of Later Prehistory and Early History at the National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh) for loaning their collections for analysis and for the fruitful discussion and support. The help and support of Prof. J.A. Anderson and Dr A. Ball during the editing of this manuscript are greatly appreciated.
Keywords
- Ancient glass beads
- Ancient pyrotechnologies
- Glass technology
- Synchrotron light
- X-ray microtomography