Archaeology of glass: medieval and renaissance production in Italy. Characterisation and classification of production indicators: an interdisciplinary approach

This contribution stems from the difficulties archaeologists have in producing a macroscopic classification and interpretation of various kinds of production indicators found in glassmaking and glassworking sites. Some indicators afe well known and easily recognizable - furnaces, crucibles, tools, moiles, cuttings, trails etc. and can be placed exactly in the production cycle. However, the origin and role or function of others is more difficult to recognize and explain. For example what are the different stages of frit and what is the significance of some kinds of production waste such as scums, heterogeneous masses etc? Is it possible to recognize relicts of raw materials in some indicators? An interdisciplinary approach, bringing together archaeologists, petrologists and chemists, can clarify some of these questions. As all indicators contain intrinsic information, they can be characterized, classified and placed in the production cycle when explored by scientific analysis. Here we present some examples of this approach tried out on production indicators found in Liguria and Tuscany where glass was made and worked.