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In the framework of the archaeometric research on Apulian Late Antique glass, a collection of 24 glass vessels (third to seventh centuries ad) and production indicators found at Herdonia (Foggia, Italy) was examined, by means of SEM-EDS, EMPA, ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS. A fragment of crucible was further investigated by SEM-EDS and EMPA. The results obtained were discussed together with another glass collection from Herdonia previously investigated. The full set of 48 samples was made of siliceous sands mixed with plant ashes (two samples: a dark green slab and a colourless beaker/lamp) or natron (all the other 46 samples). The latter were assigned to the following compositional groups: HIMT, Levantine 1, RNCBGY1, RNCBGY2, RC/LAC-Sb, intermediate HIMT/RNCBGY1, intermediate RNCBGY1/HIMT, intermediate Levantine/RNCBGY2 and two other groups, the CaO-rich HIMT and the CaO-rich/Na2O poor HIMT, which showed a prevailing Adriatic distribution and a close similarity to the weak HIMT glass group. Most Herdonia samples were similar to the HIMT productions, and thus of likely Egyptian origin, while a smaller number of samples referred to the Levantine productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-six tesserae (red, orange, yellow, light amber, green, blue and white) from the balneum of the villa at Faragola (Ascoli Satriano, Foggia) have been examined by colorimetry, ICP-MS, ICP-OES and SEM-EDS. Different types of calcareous sands have been used as the source of silica (network former), also providing the stabilizing agent. A natron-type soda source served as the network modifier; however, the use of a sodium-rich plant ash and the recycling process have been hypothesized for the production of two tesserae (FT 1 red and FT 3 orange). The colouring and opacifying agents were Cu oxide (cuprite, orange), metallic copper (red), Pb antimonates (yellow), Ca antimonates (white), a mixture of copper (Cu2 +) and Pb antimonates (green), a mixture of cobalt (Co2 +) or copper (Cu2 +) and Ca antimonates (blue). The light amber tesserae should owe their colour to iron (Fe3 +) alone or associated with sulphide (S2−) and Ca antimonates. It is likely that the Faragola tesserae were locally produced in a secondary glass workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]