Materials Inspiring Methodology: Reflecting on the Potential of Transdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Archaeological Glass

Abstract

The contribution that materials science has made to the understanding of ancient glassmaking is unquestionable, as research undertaken in recent decades has extensively demonstrated. Archaeological glass is far from being a homogeneous class of materials, encompassing objects made for different uses, manufactured in different periods and geographic areas, with a variety of tools and working techniques. If all these factors are not adequately considered when approaching the study of ancient glasses from an archaeometric perspective, data obtained by analyses can incur the risk of being less informative or even misinterpreted. Moving from previously performed research, this paper is aimed at reflecting on the potential of synergistic approaches for the study of archeological glasses, based on the interrelation among different disciplines and fostering the integration of archaeological and historical knowledge with data-driven scientific analyses.