Late seventh-century glassmaking at glastonbury Abbey

Authors: Willmott, H. and Welham, K.

Journal: Journal of Glass Studies

Volume: 55

Pages: 71-83

ISSN: 0075-4250

Abstract:

Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey, undertaken between 1951 and 1964, revealed the most extensive remains of early medieval glassmaking found in Britain. However, the complete excavation archive and finds have only recently become available for study. Re-evaluation of these records suggests that the remains of five different furnaces were located, and radiocarbon dating demonstrates that they were in operation during the late seventh century A.D. Compositional analysis of the glass that was worked there has confirmed that it was largely imported from eastern Mediterranean sources, rather than being scavenged Roman cullet, and there are indications that the glassmakers may have come from Gaul. Consequently, many parallels can be drawn between the glassmaking at Glastonbury and that at other early monastic sites in Britain, and the pivotal role played by the church in the reintroduction of glassmaking to Britain is further emphasized.

Source: Scopus