Roman Glass Beads Found in Ancient Japanese Tomb

Roman jewellery found in ancient Japan tomb

AFP – Fri, Jun 22, 2012

Glass jewellery believed to have been made by Roman craftsmen has been found in an ancient tomb in Japan, researchers said Friday, in a sign the empire's influence may have reached the edge of Asia.

Photo By Nara National Research Institute/AFP/NARA NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Tests have revealed three glass beads discovered in the Fifth Century "Utsukushi" burial mound in Nagaoka, near Kyoto, were probably made some time between the first and the fourth century, the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties said.

The government-backed institute has recently finished analysing components of the glass beads, measuring five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diametre, with tiny fragments of gilt attached.  It found that the light yellow beads were made with natron, a chemical used to melt glass by craftsmen in the empire, which succeeded the Roman Republic in 27 BC and was ultimately ended by the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The beads, which have a hole through the middle, were made with a multilayering technique -- a relatively sophisticated method in which craftsmen piled up layers of glass, often sandwiching gold leaf in between.

"They are one of the oldest multilayered glass products found in Japan, and very rare accessories that were believed to be made in the Roman Empire and sent to Japan," said Tomomi Tamura, a researcher at the institute.

The Roman Empire was concentrated around the Mediterranean Sea and stretched northwards to occupy present-day England. The finding in Japan, some 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) from Italy, may shed some light on how far east its influence reached, Tamura said.

"It will also lead to further studies on how they could have got all the way to Japan," she said. [Oh come on, we know how they got to Japan.  Ancient trade networks!  Geez Louise!]

Dark Age Glass Manufactory (?) at Glastonbury

The science and art of glassmaking is ancient.  I'm sure no expert!  As I know of it, there were two main types of glassmaking.  The oldest was the coiled form of glass that was developed in the Middle East about 3500 BCE - maybe in Mesopotamia(?).  There was a major breakthrough in the entire type of glass that glass-blowing allowed to be created when the technique was invented, around 50 BCE. 

I am not certain of this, but perhaps the art of glass-making was transmitted, or discovered, and lost, in various places over various times, only to be discovered over and over again.

In any event, I think these production artifacts that have been redated using current techniques (originally excavated in the 1950's at Glastonbury) are fascinating!  And this article perfectly ties into my comments in the previous post -- about how with the current changes in tecnology (that, for instance, allow us to date certain types of objects much more accurately than even 5 years ago, let alone 50 years ago!) allow us to put together a more accurate and ever-changing picture of our development, both as "humans" and as cultures.  More changes are on the horizon!!!

From BBC News
8 May 2012 Last updated at 05:41 ET

Glastonbury Abbey excavations find Saxon glass industry

New research on glass fragments found at Glastonbury Abbey in the 1950s reveals the earliest archaeological evidence of glass-making in Britain.

Researchers from the University of Reading carried out radiocarbon dating on finds from the digs.

Clay crucibles and pieces of vivid blue-green window glass were tested. The results show the pieces date from the 680s and are likely to be associated with a major rebuilding of the abbey by King Ine of Wessex.

The research team believes specialist glass workers came from France to work at Glastonbury.  Analysis of the glass is now being carried out to find out where the source materials came from.  Extensive remains of five glass furnaces have also been identified.

Prof Roberta Gilchrist from the Department of Archaeology said: "The research project reveals new evidence for the early date of the monastery at Glastonbury and charts its development over one thousand years, from the 6th century to its dissolution in the 16th century."

Glass-making at York and Wearmouth is recorded in historical documents in the 670s but Glastonbury provides the earliest and most substantial archaeological evidence for glass-making in Saxon Britain.

The story of the Abbey's pioneering role in medieval crafts and technology is outlined in an exhibition at Glastonbury Abbey Museum which runs until 16 September.