GLASS AND AMBER ARTIFACTS AS AN INDICATOR OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL CHANGES

This presentation of changes in the occurrence of glass and amber adornments in Bohemia in the period between forms the basis for searching for their causes. Imported glass beads, particularly of Eastern origin, and Baltic amber beads were an important part of the fashion and material culture between 950–1000 in Bohemia ruled by Přemyslid dukes, who were connected with the Ottonian Empire, the Piasts in Poland and the Arpáds in Hungary. The involvement of Bohemia in long-distance trade and the presence of an important market in Prague were described by Ibrahim ibn Yaqub in the 960’s. Although there was no shift in the geo-political orientation of Přemyslid dukes in the 11th century and there was likewise no significant change of metal jewelry, the glass and amber adornments changed markedly. A substantial decrease in the number of beads can be linked to a local transformation of burial customs and absence of necklaces in graves probably influenced by the Christianization process after the year 1000. The decline of segmented and amber beads, together with an increased occurrence of rings and infrequent other types of beads in hillforts and settlements, may reflect a change in fashion at the local or supra-regional level. They can also indirectly indicate a shift in economy, for example in the routes of long distance exchange. In the 11th century, a boom of adornments made from lead glass, both the high-lead ones, and the ternary ones containing wood-ash alkali is recorded, while soda-lime glass typical of the 10th century became less frequent. Shift in the proportion of artifacts from glass of different chemical composition can also be considered to reflect a global economic change.
Author(s): Tomková, Katerina (Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

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