Scientific analyses of some glass beads from Scythian and later sites in southern Siberia
PublicDeposited
Creator
Meek, Andrew
()
Nikolaev, Nikolai N.
Simpson, St John
2020
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Abstract
A group of glass beads from late Scythian graves at Aymyrlyg and two groups of re-strung beads from a post-Scythian hoard at Znamenka were examined as part of a programme of scientific analysis associated with the exhibition Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia at the British Museum. All belong to the collections of the State Hermitage Museum and were analysed with permission as part of the exhibition loan agreement. Non-destructive compositional analysis was carried out on the surface of the objects using a combination of XRF and VP-SEM-EDX. Using the compositional data it was possible to characterise and differentiate the types of glass used in the production of these objects. Using published analytical data for contemporary glasses we are able to suggest an approximate provenance for each of the object types.