Networks of distribution at the margins of the Empire : late antique glass vessels from the Lower Danube region
The thesis aims to explore the distribution of glass in the Balkan territories of the late Roman and early Byzantine Empire based on an integrated research on glass vessels from the late 3rd to early 7th centuries AD from three site assemblages in present-day Bulgaria (Dichin, Odartsi, and Serdica). The category of artefacts, i.e. glass vessels, is deliberately chosen since they provide the opportunity to investigate both their âarchaeologyâ (in terms of vessel morpho-typology, decoration, manufacturing techniques, etc.) and their âchemistryâ (in terms of chemical composition) as two aspects of research which are not unconnected or contrasted but are complementary to each other. Taking as a framework the model of division in the Roman and late antique glass industry, this study is focused not only on tracing the routes of glass supply from the primary production centres in the East Mediterranean to the Balkans but also on reconstructing the entire chains of distribution of raw glass and finished vessels to the consumersâ sites. Special attention is given to an attempt to identify inter-regional, regional and local networks (as a differentiation in their geographical directions, spatial scale, functional
Cholakova, A. I.
Networks of distribution at the margins of the Empire : late antique glass vessels from the Lower Danube region. The thesis aims to explore the distribution of glass in the Balkan territories of the late Roman and early Byzantine Empire based on an integrated research on glass vessels from the late 3rd to early 7th centuries AD from three site assemblages in present-day Bulgaria (Dichin, Odartsi, and Serdica). The category of artefacts, i.e. glass vessels, is deliberately chosen since they provide the opportunity to investigate both their âarchaeologyâ (in terms of vessel morpho-typology, decoration, manufacturing techniques, etc.) and their âchemistryâ (in terms of chemical composition) as two aspects of research which are not unconnected or contrasted but are complementary to each other. Taking as a framework the model of division in the Roman and late antique glass industry, this study is focused not only on tracing the routes of glass supply from the primary production centres in the East Mediterranean to the Balkans but also on reconstructing the entire chains of distribution of raw glass and finished vessels to the consumersâ sites. Special attention is given to an attempt to identify inter-regional, regional and local networks (as a differentiation in their geographical directions, spatial scale, functional
networks distribution margin empire late_antique glass_vessel lower region aim_explore distribution glass balkan late roman_early byzantine_empire base integrated glass_vessel site assemblages present_day bulgaria category artefact glass_vessel deliberately choose since provide_opportunity investigate archaeology term vessel morpho typology decoration manufacture_technique etc chemistry term chemical_composition two_aspect unconnected contrast complementary other taking framework model division roman late_antique glass_industry study_focus trace route glass supply primary production_centre east mediterranean balkans also reconstruct entire chain distribution raw glass finish vessel consumer site special_attention_give attempt_identify inter_regional regional_local network differentiation geographical direction spatial_scale functional