Bronze Age glass between the Alps and the Baltic Sea. Studies on manufacture and distribution of the oldest glass in Central Europe

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frank Falkenstein
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2010 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 191679454

Glass beads from graves and settlements of the Middle to Late Bronze Age (14. -9. Century BC) are the oldest glass products in the area between the Alps and the Baltic Sea. The rarity and the close connection to higher than average appointed graves show the exclusive and precious value of this material in that time. Bronze Age glass is poorly investigated in Germany, compared to an international standard. The project deals with archaeological and archaeometrical investigations on Bronze Age glass finds from Germany and ajacent regions, with the aim to get information about their forms, colours, time, find context and distribution. Chemical analysis of major, trace and rare earth elements will give insight into the glass production and the recipes used, to get information about provenance and distribution of certain glass and organisation of glass production. Comparison with Bronze Age glass from other regions, i.e. Italy, will give information about possible trade at that time. The interdisciplinary approach will lead to knowledge about aspects of cultural history and manufacture history of glass in the Bronze Age.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Ulrich Schüßler