Bárkányi Ildikó – F. Lajkó Orsolya (szerk.): A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve 2017., Új folyam 4. (Szeged, 2018)
Régészet
Osváth - Fórizs - Szabó - Bajnóczi Archaeological and archaeometric study of Iron Age glass beads Archaeological and archaeometric study of Iron Age glass beads Zsófia Osváth - István Fórizs - Máté Szabó - Bernadett Bajnóczi We investigated Scythian and Celtic glass beads with archaeometric methods for the better understanding the rare connections of these two cultures. Furthermore, we gained a more complete picture of the composition of glasses used by the peoples in the Carpathian Basin during the Middle and Late Iron Age. The findings were as follows: three stratified eye beads with bosses from Mezőtúr, two bobbin beads from the 29th grave of Vác-Kavicsbánya and a simple eye bead from the 11th grave of Vác-Kavicsbánya. While the first bead type can be linked to the Scythians (Vekerzug culture) and dated to the 6th-5th century BC, the beads from Vác, which were prevalent in the second part and at the end of the 3rd century BC, belong to the Celts [La Téne culture). On the other hand, the stylistic features and similar apotropaic function justify the collective discussion of the artefacts and their comparison from the aspects of material characteristics. After all, we had a little chance to better identify their provenance, based on the small number of archaeometric publications in the concerned field. The archaeometric measurements were performed in the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, first without sampling, using a handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (this is the only method we were able to use for the beads from Vác), then after sampling, using electron microprobe, micro-X-ray diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. Based on the chemical composition, the beads were made from soda-lime-silicate glass. Regarding the colourants used, we identified colouring techniques well-known from the antiquity: cobalt and copper for blue, calcium antimonate for white and iron-bearing lead an- timonate for yellow. Due to its iron content (3-4 weight% Fe203) lead antimonate pigment needs more attention. Iron could have played a role in stabilizing the pigment and creating the ochre yellow tone. In addition, we know occasional parallels from antiquity. Its raw material is unknown, but it is an important "characteristic" of the studied glasses for the purpose of uncovering production technologies from the Iron Age and to localize their production centres. Due to the small number of findings and archaeometric data, the origin of beads could only be partially identified. Tibor Kemenczei pointed out that the stratified eye beads with bosses may have originated from Pontus, which can be confirmed based on the (compositional) parallel from Apollonia Pontica (Bulgaria). We were unable to prove Maciej Karwowski's assumption that the bobbin beads were made in the Celtic Koine, since their chemical composition is identical with that of the Scythian beads and the bracelets of the La Téne culture. The simple eye beads - also supported by compositional parallels - may have originated from Italy or the Pontus, as well as Rhodes. Furthermore, based on the similarities between the three bead types we hypothesize a sort of technological continuity. 94
