Ein außergewöhnliches Glasgefäß aus der römischen Siedlung Neuenstadt am Kocher

Archäologisch-archäometrische Untersuchungen

Abstract

An Unusual Glass Vessel from the Roman Settlement of Neuenstadt am Kocher. Archaeological-Archaeometric Investigations

Neuenstadt am Kocher was located during Roman times in the border region of Germania Superior. It was the main settlement in the civitas Aurelia G(---). The settlement was originally founded after the middle of the 2^nd century, and was inhabited until the second half of the 3^rd century. Excavations are ongoing under the auspices of a DFG project of the University of Bamberg and the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Baden-Württemberg. The unusual glass vessel was found in a large, high-status building within the settlement. The special feature of this clear glass jug is its twisted handle with an eyelet midway. The handle is related to jugs with chain handles, a type particularly found in Mainz. There are two known parallels for the Neuenstadt vessel from Cologne and Tongeren. The twisted handle is also known from vessels of different shape, but remains a rare feature. Chemical analysis (LA-ICP-MS) shows that the Neuenstadt vessel was made from raw antimony decolorised glass. The analysis of four blown glass vessels from different locations showed that they were made using some recycled glass.