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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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Keywords
- Ancient glass beads
- Ancient pyrotechnologies
- Glass technology
- Synchrotron light
- X-ray microtomography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Archaeology
Cite this
Unwinding the spiral : Discovering the manufacturing method of Iron Age Scottish glass beads. / Bertini, Martina; Mokso, Rajmund; Krupp, Eva M.
In: Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 43, 03.2014, p. 256-266.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unwinding the spiral
T2 - Discovering the manufacturing method of Iron Age Scottish glass beads
AU - Bertini, Martina
AU - Mokso, Rajmund
AU - Krupp, Eva M.
N1 - Acknowledgements M.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.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Ancient glass beads
KW - Ancient pyrotechnologies
KW - Glass technology
KW - Synchrotron light
KW - X-ray microtomography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893394051&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2014.01.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2014.01.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84893394051
VL - 43
SP - 256
EP - 266
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
ER -