Glass Networks: Tracing Early Medieval Long-Distance Trade, c. 800-1000 (IMC Leeds 2020 Session 819) (original) (raw)

This session presents the 'Glass Networks: Tracing Early Medieval Long-Distance Trade, c. 800-1000' Leverhulme-funded project. The project analyses early medieval glass beads with chemical and archaeological methods, in order to develop a novel perspective on European long-distance trade networks and interconnectedness. Early medieval raw glass production mainly took place in Mediterranean and Near Eastern centres. Each produced glass with distinct chemical compositions, which was circulated to various regions, including Europe. Small-scale raw glass production also existed in northwestern Europe. While the study of glass in the Mediterranean has received considerable attention, the potential of glass circulation networks to transform our understanding of trade and communication routes in Europe has yet to be fully utilised. Due to the Covid situation and the change to an online format for the conference this session did finally not take place.