Archaeometrical study on ancient trade from the viewpoint of "Western glass" distribution in East Asia

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25702013
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cultural assets study and museology
• Research Institution: Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
• Principal Investigator: Tamura Tomomi 独立行政法人国立文化財機構奈良文化財研究所, 埋蔵文化財センター, 研究員 (10570129)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 考古科学 / ナトロンガラス / 植物灰ガラス / 化学組成 / 製作技法 / 東西交易

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aims to clarify the ancient trade route and its chronological changes by estimating the "Western glass" production place excavated in Japan through chemical analysis .
As a result of the research, it was confirmed that a certain amount of "Natron glass" unique to the Mediterranean world is excavated in Japan. Furthermore, the distribution of Natron glass in Japan was concentrated in the latter half of the Yayoi period to the end of the Yayoi period and in the early half of mid-Kofun Period, and it was also revealed that the chemical compositions and bead-making techniques are different from each other. This study showed that the Japanese archipelago located at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent was associated with the Mediterranean world by trade since the Yayoi period.

Free Research Field

文化財科学