Composition of 6th–1st century BC glass of core-formed vessels from the North Black Sea region
Composition of 6th–1st century BC glass of core-formed vessels from the North Black Sea region

Summary/Abstract: The composition of 38 samples of core-formed vessels from the State Historical Museum (Moscow) was studied using SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-MS techniques. Most of them were unearthed in North Pontic Greek colonies. Most studied vessels are likely made of Levantine glass. However, the composition of glass of the Mediterranean group I vessels is not absolutely homogeneous, slightly differing for the earlier and the later types. It could imply that either the glassmaking centres supplying workshops manufacturing core-formed containers changed the location within the Levantine region or some modifications in the production technology occurred over the 5th century BC. A slight difference in the composition of blue and yellow glass could suggest a specialisation in the production of some colours, namely blue glass coloured with cobalt – a mineral colourant not universally available. Two samples likely originated from Egyptian (or Italian) glassmaking centres. One of them is dated to the late 6th century BC, implying the early use of low-Al glass by workshops manufacturing core-formed containers. Some peculiarities of the composition and repartition of glass of the Mediterranean Group II possibly suggest the existence in the Hellenistic period of various production centres for such vessels, supplying them to the “western” and “eastern” regions of the ancient world.

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