The aim of this study is to identify the presence of a possible production of glass in the ancient harbour of Classe (Ravenna - Italy), after the redevelopment of the 5thcentury AD. In particular, the Building n. 6 (5th– 8thcentury) has returned a considerable amount of glass objects (vessels and production wastes), probably connected with the small circular kiln identified inside. Just outside of Building n. 6, the dump US 4381 (early 6thcentury AD) allows a typological and compositional comparison, relative to the moment of maximum attendance of the warehouse, with the possibility to identify which forms could be produced inside. The forms identified in both of the contexts are: beakers (Is. 96, 106c and variants with rounded rim), goblets (Is. 111), bowls (Is. 116/117 and variants), lamps (Is. 134 and Uboldi III.2) and production wastes (glass chunk and working debris). The chemical analyses conducted (XRF and EPMA) shows the presence of three compositional groups: HIMT glass (High Iron Manganese Titanium), Serie 3.2 and Levantine I. The presence of glass raw chunks and vessels of HIMT and Série 3.2 composition can be interpreted as evidence of a systematic glassworking activity in Classe, although limited to these compositions Few fragments and no raw chunk referable to the chemical group of the Levantine I, are, in fact, identified in Classe, allowing us no consideration about working activities for glass of this composition. Finally, the isotopic analyses have highlighted the likely use of coastal sands typical of the Eastern Mediterranean as raw materials, and this evidence is perfectly compatible with a secondary production (recast of raw glass chunk and recycled materials). This study was carried out within the Italian MIUR PRIN 2009 “Continuità e discontinuità nelle produzioni vetrarie altoadriatiche tra il IX sec. a.C. e il XIV sec. d.C.”.
La diffusione del vetro nell’Adriatico centrale: studi tipologici e dati chimici da Classe
Chinni Tania
;Cirelli Enrico;Vandini Mariangela;
2019
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify the presence of a possible production of glass in the ancient harbour of Classe (Ravenna - Italy), after the redevelopment of the 5thcentury AD. In particular, the Building n. 6 (5th– 8thcentury) has returned a considerable amount of glass objects (vessels and production wastes), probably connected with the small circular kiln identified inside. Just outside of Building n. 6, the dump US 4381 (early 6thcentury AD) allows a typological and compositional comparison, relative to the moment of maximum attendance of the warehouse, with the possibility to identify which forms could be produced inside. The forms identified in both of the contexts are: beakers (Is. 96, 106c and variants with rounded rim), goblets (Is. 111), bowls (Is. 116/117 and variants), lamps (Is. 134 and Uboldi III.2) and production wastes (glass chunk and working debris). The chemical analyses conducted (XRF and EPMA) shows the presence of three compositional groups: HIMT glass (High Iron Manganese Titanium), Serie 3.2 and Levantine I. The presence of glass raw chunks and vessels of HIMT and Série 3.2 composition can be interpreted as evidence of a systematic glassworking activity in Classe, although limited to these compositions Few fragments and no raw chunk referable to the chemical group of the Levantine I, are, in fact, identified in Classe, allowing us no consideration about working activities for glass of this composition. Finally, the isotopic analyses have highlighted the likely use of coastal sands typical of the Eastern Mediterranean as raw materials, and this evidence is perfectly compatible with a secondary production (recast of raw glass chunk and recycled materials). This study was carried out within the Italian MIUR PRIN 2009 “Continuità e discontinuità nelle produzioni vetrarie altoadriatiche tra il IX sec. a.C. e il XIV sec. d.C.”.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
