- Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation
Ekaterina Stolyarova
Institute of Archaeology Russian Academy of Sciences, Dse, Department Member
Research Interests:
Viking-age gaming sets containing boards, dice and counters made of bone, antler, clay, stone and amber are known from graves and on settlement sites in England, France, Germany, Scandinavian countries, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. The... more
Viking-age gaming sets containing boards, dice and counters made of bone, antler, clay, stone and amber are known from graves and on settlement sites in England, France, Germany, Scandinavian countries, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. The pieces of the single set are almost always of the same form, apart from the ‘king piece’ which differs in colour, size or shape. The number of gaming pieces in each archaeological find varies from one to forty-seven. Gaming pieces of glass are much rarer than counters of other materials.
Glass gaming sets and single counters were found in the rich graves and on the settlement sites in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Ukraine dated to the 9th - early 11th centuries AD. All counters from Eastern Europe apart from the ‘king pieces’ are of similar size and form, combining inverted truncated cone and hemisphere. They were produced of translucent purple-violet, turquoise, dark green, blue-green or green-olive glass and decorated by gilding or applied spiral glass threads of the second colour. Despite the widespread of board games in Byzantium, Islamic Orient and Medieval Europe, the origin of the Viking-age glass counters is still unclear. This paper focuses on the technological study of the glass gaming pieces from Gnezdovo and analytical study of their chemical composition.
A set of thirteen glass gaming pieces completed with oval and round pebbles was discovered in situ in the largest burial chamber from Gnezdovo (OL-30) dated to the second part of the 10th century AD according to the Arabic coins set placed to the grave and C14 dates. Gaming pieces were found also and in the cultural layers of the Gnezdovo settlements. Gaming pieces were produced by moulding into open stone or earthenware mould. Standard height of the items indicates to standard portions of glass filled each mould. A considerable part of the counters shows negative marks of a punty rod slightly chipping the top of the hemispherical surface. In certain cases, ring-shaped scars are detected on the base of the glass pieces decorated with gold. It is possible that purple and turquoise items were held by a metal tube when the gold foil was applied on the top of the glass hemisphere and narrow beams spread over from the top to equator. Annealing at the temperature about 550ºC was possibly a final manufacturing operation.
The samples available for non-destructive analysis include 16 gaming pieces. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) was used to analyse the glass composition in a vacuum. Quantification was performed by FP calculations. Obtained results are not completely representative for the bulk composition of the glass because of alkali leached out from the surface leaving behind a body with an outer layer enriched with silicon dioxide. All samples belong to soda-lime-silica glasses with the relatively high level of potassium and magnesium contributes approximately 0.68 – 3,02% by weight of the batch. It indicates that the glass gaming pieces from Gnezdovo were made with soda derived from plant ashes employed as an alkali in the inland regions of the Near East. Gaming pieces of glass dated to the 9th -11th centuries were found in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt. However, their conical form and mosaic technique differ from the Viking-age glass counters.
Glass gaming sets and single counters were found in the rich graves and on the settlement sites in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Ukraine dated to the 9th - early 11th centuries AD. All counters from Eastern Europe apart from the ‘king pieces’ are of similar size and form, combining inverted truncated cone and hemisphere. They were produced of translucent purple-violet, turquoise, dark green, blue-green or green-olive glass and decorated by gilding or applied spiral glass threads of the second colour. Despite the widespread of board games in Byzantium, Islamic Orient and Medieval Europe, the origin of the Viking-age glass counters is still unclear. This paper focuses on the technological study of the glass gaming pieces from Gnezdovo and analytical study of their chemical composition.
A set of thirteen glass gaming pieces completed with oval and round pebbles was discovered in situ in the largest burial chamber from Gnezdovo (OL-30) dated to the second part of the 10th century AD according to the Arabic coins set placed to the grave and C14 dates. Gaming pieces were found also and in the cultural layers of the Gnezdovo settlements. Gaming pieces were produced by moulding into open stone or earthenware mould. Standard height of the items indicates to standard portions of glass filled each mould. A considerable part of the counters shows negative marks of a punty rod slightly chipping the top of the hemispherical surface. In certain cases, ring-shaped scars are detected on the base of the glass pieces decorated with gold. It is possible that purple and turquoise items were held by a metal tube when the gold foil was applied on the top of the glass hemisphere and narrow beams spread over from the top to equator. Annealing at the temperature about 550ºC was possibly a final manufacturing operation.
The samples available for non-destructive analysis include 16 gaming pieces. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) was used to analyse the glass composition in a vacuum. Quantification was performed by FP calculations. Obtained results are not completely representative for the bulk composition of the glass because of alkali leached out from the surface leaving behind a body with an outer layer enriched with silicon dioxide. All samples belong to soda-lime-silica glasses with the relatively high level of potassium and magnesium contributes approximately 0.68 – 3,02% by weight of the batch. It indicates that the glass gaming pieces from Gnezdovo were made with soda derived from plant ashes employed as an alkali in the inland regions of the Near East. Gaming pieces of glass dated to the 9th -11th centuries were found in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt. However, their conical form and mosaic technique differ from the Viking-age glass counters.
Research Interests:
The paper studies fragments of gilded and enameled glass vessels of Middle Eastern origin from a building dated to the pre-Mongolian period, excavated in Yaroslavl in 2006 by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology, of the Russian... more
The paper studies fragments of gilded and enameled glass vessels of Middle Eastern origin from a building dated to the pre-Mongolian period, excavated in Yaroslavl in 2006 by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology, of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The fragments seem to be parts of three beakers. Two of them bear inscriptions in Naskh script and had a fragment showing a human face in three-quarter view. Parallels support the contextual dating. A fragment bearing the image of the lower part of a man standing on the bank of water probably belonged
to the third beaker. Discrepancy between dating it to the third quarter of the 13th century based on parallels and archaeological context evidence enables dating the emergence of vessels of this kind to the first half of the 13th century instead of the mid-13th century.
to the third beaker. Discrepancy between dating it to the third quarter of the 13th century based on parallels and archaeological context evidence enables dating the emergence of vessels of this kind to the first half of the 13th century instead of the mid-13th century.
The article deals with the attributes of local glass production. The most significant are remains of a workshop. The author classifies workshops into several categories (production cycle, technology, division of labour between masters)... more
The article deals with the attributes of local glass production. The most significant are remains of a workshop. The author classifies workshops into several categories (production cycle, technology, division of labour between masters) and provides examples of some of them. Only a handful of glass workshop are known to have been existed in the pre-Mongolian Russia, limited to the southern Russian lands. Due to the scarcity of found manufacturing facilities, the author proposes that, in addition to archaeological methods, other approaches be used, including chemical, technological, morphological, historical and cultural. One effective technique is the application of methods from natural sciences and STEM disciplines, such as biology, mathematics, and others. A collective application of these methods can help to confirm or rule out local production. As an example of this approach the article cites studies by Yu. L. Shchapova on identifying local production of glass bracelets in Polotsk, Novgorod, and Smolensk.
The Belbek IV necropolis is situated in the south-western Crimea in the Belbek river valley. The site dates back to the second quarter of the 1st century A.D. or the first half of the 3rd century A.D. Among the most common artifacts in... more
The Belbek IV necropolis is situated in the south-western Crimea in the Belbek river valley. The site dates back to the second quarter of the 1st century A.D. or the first half of the 3rd century A.D.
Among the most common artifacts in Belbek IV burials are beads made of glass, faience, stone, amber, gagate, and other materials. Initially, we studied the morphology and techniques. This paper is concerned with the study of the chemical composition of glass and faience beads. The composition of 28 beads was identified by Yegorkov with emission spectrum analysis. The results of the analysis were interpreted according to the method by Sčapova.
With this methodology, all analyzed beads save one faience bead were found to be made of glass. The analysis of the chemical composition of glass and faience revealed the sources of alkali and alkali-earth materials and helped to calculate norms of recipe. Beads were divided into chemical classes according to the classification of the ancient glass composition. The origin of the beads was determined by correlating the norms to the types of alkali and alkali-earth materials.
The beads were classified by glassmaking schools, with the most part (13 specimens) being associated with the Near Eastern school, with workshops spread throughout the inner regions of Near East/Southwest Asia, possibly in Syria. Eight beads were linked to the Mesopotamian school, with workshops in the inner regions of Near East/Southwest Asia, namely Mesopotamia. Five beads were linked to the provincial Roman school with workshops throughout Egypt, the eastern Mediterranean and the territory of the European provinces of Rome. One bead was classified as pertaining to the metropolitan Roman school with workshops in Rome. The faience bead, in our opinion, was produced in the traditional glassmaking regions (Egypt or Near East/Southwest Asia), rather than in mountain regions.
Among the most common artifacts in Belbek IV burials are beads made of glass, faience, stone, amber, gagate, and other materials. Initially, we studied the morphology and techniques. This paper is concerned with the study of the chemical composition of glass and faience beads. The composition of 28 beads was identified by Yegorkov with emission spectrum analysis. The results of the analysis were interpreted according to the method by Sčapova.
With this methodology, all analyzed beads save one faience bead were found to be made of glass. The analysis of the chemical composition of glass and faience revealed the sources of alkali and alkali-earth materials and helped to calculate norms of recipe. Beads were divided into chemical classes according to the classification of the ancient glass composition. The origin of the beads was determined by correlating the norms to the types of alkali and alkali-earth materials.
The beads were classified by glassmaking schools, with the most part (13 specimens) being associated with the Near Eastern school, with workshops spread throughout the inner regions of Near East/Southwest Asia, possibly in Syria. Eight beads were linked to the Mesopotamian school, with workshops in the inner regions of Near East/Southwest Asia, namely Mesopotamia. Five beads were linked to the provincial Roman school with workshops throughout Egypt, the eastern Mediterranean and the territory of the European provinces of Rome. One bead was classified as pertaining to the metropolitan Roman school with workshops in Rome. The faience bead, in our opinion, was produced in the traditional glassmaking regions (Egypt or Near East/Southwest Asia), rather than in mountain regions.
In 2008 the Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow) performed safeguarding archaeological work in Solnechnogorsk district of Moscow region. An isolated barrow grave was discovered in the course of the work. Two... more
In 2008 the Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow) performed safeguarding archaeological work in Solnechnogorsk district of Moscow region. An isolated barrow grave was discovered in the course of the work. Two female burials were discovered inside. The accompanying inventory, including glass beads (878 specimens) allowed dating the mound to the 17th or 18th century.
The bulk of the glass beads are colorless and colored seed beads (white, yellow, green, indigo, turquoise, red-brown and purple, 840 specimens) made by dividing up the drawn tubes. Flat oval beads of opaque white and gray glass and transparent blue-green glass made by winding (37 specimens) were found in addition to the seed beads. The study of the chemical composition of beads suggested that the beads of indigo, red-brown, white, purple, turquoise and colorless glass can be traced to the Venetian production. Green and yellow seed beads and flat oval beads can be regarded as a product of European factories, particularly Dutch.
The beads in question were found in one of two discovered burials containing a female aged about 20 years. All of them were located in the waist area of the female to the right of the spine, near the right elbow. The hairstyle of the buried female has been reconstructed as the hair was intact: a single braid descending down the spine. The location of beads in the burial suggest that the beads may have been part of the decoration of the braid, the so-called kosnik (from Russian “kosa” for braid). Kosnik is a complex decoration, in which a bronze or leather ring-holder or metal signet rings held a strings of beads, a beaded rigid leather or textile base, also decorated with textile ribbons and tassels made from beads and seed beads.
The bulk of the glass beads are colorless and colored seed beads (white, yellow, green, indigo, turquoise, red-brown and purple, 840 specimens) made by dividing up the drawn tubes. Flat oval beads of opaque white and gray glass and transparent blue-green glass made by winding (37 specimens) were found in addition to the seed beads. The study of the chemical composition of beads suggested that the beads of indigo, red-brown, white, purple, turquoise and colorless glass can be traced to the Venetian production. Green and yellow seed beads and flat oval beads can be regarded as a product of European factories, particularly Dutch.
The beads in question were found in one of two discovered burials containing a female aged about 20 years. All of them were located in the waist area of the female to the right of the spine, near the right elbow. The hairstyle of the buried female has been reconstructed as the hair was intact: a single braid descending down the spine. The location of beads in the burial suggest that the beads may have been part of the decoration of the braid, the so-called kosnik (from Russian “kosa” for braid). Kosnik is a complex decoration, in which a bronze or leather ring-holder or metal signet rings held a strings of beads, a beaded rigid leather or textile base, also decorated with textile ribbons and tassels made from beads and seed beads.
This article is devoted to one of the objects shedding light on the material culture of the period in which the medieval state of Rus’ emerged: a glass smoother found in 1899 during excavations of Gnezdovo burial-mounds of the 10th and... more
This article is devoted to one of the objects shedding light on the material culture of the period in which the medieval state of Rus’ emerged: a glass smoother found in 1899 during excavations of Gnezdovo burial-mounds of the 10th and early-11th centuries in Burial-mound 25 in which the deceased had been cremated. According to the results obtained with the help of optical-emission spectrographic analysis (conducted by A. N. Egor’kov), the smoother had been made of glass of the chemical class K2O-CaO-SiO2. The interpretation of the features of the chemical composition of the glass (R2O=4.8%; RO=15.9%) led author to conclude that the object had been made following a tradition different from those European rules, according to which the composition of glass contained a higher concentration of alkaline earth elements, and about its genetic similarity to Roman-Byzantine recipes. The find of the smoother in Gnezdovo was perfectly logical, if we take into account that most parallels come from the trading-and-craft proto-urban settlements of Northern Europe and burial-mounds of the 9th and 10th centuries associated with them (Birka, Kaupang, Hedeby, Ribe). And Gnezdovo was one of the largest early urban centers of Rus’, which yielded up materials in which components of the Scandinavian culture of that period were most vividly represented.
The article is devoted to the publication and investigation of a rare find made of glass. A lump of raw glass designed for exchange was found in Kiev, when rescue-archaeology work was being carried out in the area of the present-day... more
The article is devoted to the publication and investigation of a rare find made of glass. A lump of raw glass designed for exchange was found in Kiev, when rescue-archaeology
work was being carried out in the area of the present-day Independence Square
in levels dating from the first half of the 12th century. It is presumed that the glass lump had been intended for the fashioning of small ornaments, mosaic tesserae, or for making glaze. The chemical composition of the glass was investigated by the method of optical-emission spectrography. The results made it possible to classify the glass as belonging to the class
of non-alkaline lead glass (Pb-Si), which is usually associated with production centres
in Byzantium, Western Europe and medieval Rus. However, the presence in the glass of an alkaline admixture in the form of potassium oxide (1,4 %) suggests that it had originated
from medieval Rus. Special features of this glass object include its decoration with
a plant pattern in the form of winding tendrils with leaves and flowers which was probably obtained by chance when some object or other (a reel of wire for example) happened to be impressed on the surface of the lump.
work was being carried out in the area of the present-day Independence Square
in levels dating from the first half of the 12th century. It is presumed that the glass lump had been intended for the fashioning of small ornaments, mosaic tesserae, or for making glaze. The chemical composition of the glass was investigated by the method of optical-emission spectrography. The results made it possible to classify the glass as belonging to the class
of non-alkaline lead glass (Pb-Si), which is usually associated with production centres
in Byzantium, Western Europe and medieval Rus. However, the presence in the glass of an alkaline admixture in the form of potassium oxide (1,4 %) suggests that it had originated
from medieval Rus. Special features of this glass object include its decoration with
a plant pattern in the form of winding tendrils with leaves and flowers which was probably obtained by chance when some object or other (a reel of wire for example) happened to be impressed on the surface of the lump.
E. Stolyarova'paper is headed "Concerning technology of production of gold-glass beads in the pre-Mongol period". Investigation of gold- and silver-glass beads has allowed the author single out two stages in production of beads of this... more
E. Stolyarova'paper is headed "Concerning technology of production of gold-glass beads in the pre-Mongol period". Investigation of gold- and silver-glass beads has allowed the author single out two stages in production of beads of this type associated with different technological patterns and production centers. Beads of 9th-10th cc. were drawn of glass tube in workshops of the Near Eastern, while beads of the 11th-13th cc. were made in Byzantium and Rus' by twisting a glass rod. Special investigation of beads with metal foil from Myakinino kurgans of the 12th - the first half of the 13 th cc. gives a possibility to determine beads of Russian and Byzantine production, and single out a group of beads imitating gold-glass ones.