Produrre tessere in vetro a Classe: una prospettiva archeologica

In 402 AD, Ravenna became the capitol of the Western Roman Empire . On this occasion, the city was completely transformed to meet the needs of the imperial court. Many palaces and churches were built between the 5th and the 6th centuries and decorated with mosaics that represent one of the highest expressions of Late Antique art in Ravenna. The most refined use of glass tesserae is an interesting topic for the researchers: several studies have sought to determine the technique and place of production. Through the comparison of archaeometrical data, concerning different sets of mosaic tesserae from Ravenna, and archaeological records coming from two different glass-working areas identified in Classe, this paper will provide an updated review about this particular Late Antique manufacture, showing that there are no data support a local production of tesserae in Classe.