BYZANTINE OPAQUE RED GLASS TESSERAE FROM BEIT SHEAN,ISRAEL*

This paper presents the results of analysis of Byzantine opaque red glass tesserae derived from three separate locations in the ancient city of Beit Shean, Israel. Investigation proceeded using reflective light microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence and energy dispersive scanning electron microscopy. The glass matrix of the tesserae was found to be heterogeneous, with many inclusions. Similarities and differences between tesserae from the two mosaics are examined and discussed. Implications for locale of manufacture and production techniques are considered. Comparisons between the three locations led to conclusions about the use of the tunnel as a storage site and the implications of this for future research on mosaics.     

GREENSTONE AXES FROM EASTERN CENTRAL SWEDEN: A TECHNOLOGICAL-PETROLOGICAL APPROACH*

Thin-section study of Mesolithic-Neolithic axes from five sites in eastern central Sweden and of dolerites occurring in the vicinity showed that the axes were almost definitely produced from local material. Knapping experiments were carried out on blanks from two of these local dolerite varieties and on control material from Delaware, New Jersey, to produce thin-butted axes. These showed that the unconventional shape of the Swedish preforms is mainly, if not completely, determined by the intrinsic properties of the rock and not by local or regional cultural differences or bad craftsmanship. A number of features were observed in thin-section, such as a relatively coarse grain size, veining and small cracks, which may lead to the inferior knapping qualities of the Swedish dolerites.     

Roman military copper‐alloy artefacts from Israel: questions of organization and ethnicity*

The published analyses of Roman military copper‐alloy metalwork from Masada are complimented by additional ICP‐AES analyses of material from Gamla enabling further discussion of alloying trends and presenting new insights into the organization of the Roman military and the cultural specificity of brass technology.     

The Production of Lead–Tin Yellow at Merovingian Schleitheim (Switzerland)*

A Merovingian crucible fragment, with internally adhering yellow glass, and yellow glass beads of the same region and period were investigated by non‐destructive XRF, optical microscopy and SEM‐EDS. Although the microstructure and chemical composition of the yellow pigment (lead–tin yellow type II, ‘PbSnO₃’) are almost identical in both the beads and the crucible, in the latter the pigment occurs in a much higher concentration. However, the glass base in the beads and the crucible is very different, indicating that the beads were not manufactured directly from the crucible. Instead, the crucible most likely served to produce lead–tin yellow, which was subsequently mixed elsewhere with a colourless soda–lime glass to produce yellow glass beads.     

CREEP OF LEAD DYEING VESSELS IN POMPEII: THE USE OF FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS TO ANSWER ‘UNANSWERABLE’ QUESTIONS

The scale of manufacture of the dyeing industry in Pompeii is a controversial subject. Previous studies have taken a theoretical approach. This study used full‐scale replicas of dyeing apparatus to investigate their operating parameters. To explore the physical effect within the materials during the dyeing cycle, a virtual replica was constructed. Finite element analysis was used to explore the long‐term mechanical effects of the dyeing process on the apparatus and on production as a whole. These combined methods have given an understanding of the significance of the industry and this new method has provided a foundation for further work.     

PANTELLERIAN WARE: A COMPREHENSIVE ARCHAEOMETRIC REVIEW*

Pantellerian ware is a Late Roman cooking ware whose production centre was established on the island of Pantelleria by the pioneering research of Fulford and Peacock almost 20 years ago ( Peacock 1982 ; Fulford and Peacock 1984 ). Archaeological and archaeometric studies carried out by the authors of the present contribution during the past four years have aimed to fully characterize this ceramic class. Recurrent ceramic forms, their distribution over time and space, their petrographic characteristics and their chemical identity, as well as possible raw materials and their technological properties, were considered. The present paper is a comprehensive review of this archaeometric work and aims to establish a ‘reference group’. Using a representative number of samples of Pantellerian ware that were recently discovered in the island through archaeological field surveys or surface and submarine excavations, it was possible to characterize in detail the compositional variability of this ware in terms of chemistry and petrography. Furthermore, the physical properties of this ceramic type have been defined in order to better understand its performance characteristics, mainly in response to induced thermal stress. In the meantime, the experimental mixing and tempering of locally sampled raw materials have shed light on the ancient manufacturing process and have led to an approximation of the original paste.     

INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA ATOMIC EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY ANALYSES OF ROMAN MILITARY COPPER-ALLOY ARTEFACTS FROM THE EXCAVATIONS AT MASADA,ISRAEL*

A selection of Roman military fittings and associated copper-alloy artefacts was analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. The method used was a variant on those previously published and gives very good precision and accuracy. The Roman metalwork analysed conforms extremely well to similar artefacts analysed from, contemporaneous European sites and suggests, despite the strongly ‘local’ nature of the Judaean legions, a considerable uniformity of alloying practice within the Roman army during the first century AD.