Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2. Petr Dresler, Opevnn Pohanska u Beclavi, Brno: Masarykova Univerzita, 2011, pp. 3233, igs. 47 and 48.
3. Pavel p and others, Grossmhrische Kirchen in Pohansko bei Beclav, in Frhmittelalterliche Kirchen als archologische und historische Quelle, Internationale Tagungen in
Mikulice, v. 8, ed. Lumr Polek and others, Brno: Archologisches Institut der Akademie Wissenschaften der Tschechischen
Republik, 2010, pp. 187204.
4. Boivoj Dostl, Beclav-Pohansko, v. 4, Velkomoravsk
velmosk dvorec, Brno: Universita J. E. Purkyn, 1975.
5. Petr Dresler and Ji Machek, Beclav-Pohansko: Stav
a zpracovn vzkum pedhrad = Beclav-Pohansko: Zustand
und Bearbeitung der Untersuchung der Vorburg, in Archeologie doby hraditn vesk a Slovensk republice = Archaeologia Mediaevalis Moravica et Silesiana, supp. 2, ed. Petr Dresler
and others, Brno: Masarykova Univerzita, 2007, pp. 5461,
esp. p. 55.
37
38
TABLE 1
Glass Beads and Buttons Submitted for Chemical Analysis
Group
of Glass
Picture
Length/Diameter
(in cm)
P38302
JP/022
0.2/0.3
P38302
JP/022
1.1/0.35
P38302
JP/022
1.7/0.9
P38302
JP/022
1.9/0.5
P38327
JP/028
0.8/0.7
P144713
JP/065
0.85/0.8
P144715
JP/065
1.4/0.6
P165038/1
JP/172
0.35/0.8
P165038/2
JP/172
0.9/1.06
10
P165038/3
JP/172
1.3/0.8
11
P165038/4
JP/172
1.3/0.5
12
P144735
JP/072
1.8/1.2
13
P165051
JP/177
1.9/1.3
14
P204397
JP/202
0.8/1.6
39
DESCRIPTION OF GRAVES
CONTAINING GLASS BEADS
JP/022 (Fig. 3)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1962. Square L 16-74. Anthropological determination: child, about 10 years. Rectangular pit
(L. 185 cm, W. 90 cm, D. 75 cm), orientation
NNWSSE. Dislocated skeleton, originally probably in extended supine position, with skull lying
on right temple. Thirty glass beads (27 of them
complete) were found in upper part of chest between dislocated bones; below hip joint of right
femur were fragments of bronze or copper band
ring.
Description of inds:
1. Necklace of 27 complete and three fragmentary glass beads. Nineteen transversely segmented beads: one bead segmented seven times,
one bead segmented six times, nine beads segmented four times, seven beads segmented three
40
JP/028 (Fig. 4)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1962. Square L 30-93. Anthropological determination: female, 19 or 20 years. Rectangular pit
(L. 190 cm, W. 70 cm, D. 20 cm), orientation
SWNE. Skeleton in extended supine position,
with skull lying on left temple. On left side below ribs, between spine and elbow of left arm,
were eight olive-shaped green beads threaded
on thin wire (as noted in the documentation of
the excavation; only four beads and fragments
of wire are preserved); under skull on right side
were three bronze earrings of Danubian type,
JP/065 (Fig. 5)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1976. Square O 91-2. Anthropological determination: female, 4555 years. Rectangular pit (L.
205 cm, W. 62 cm, D. 37 cm), orientation NW
SE. Skeleton in extended supine position, with
skull lying on left temple. In upper part of chest,
below mandible, were three glass beads (only
41
JP/172 (Fig. 7)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1978. Square O 33-8. Anthropological determination: female, 2430 years. Oval pit (L. 180 cm,
W. 67 cm, D. 24 cm), orientation SN. Skeleton
in extended supine position, with left arm bent
at right angle and lying across lumbar spine,
and skull lying on base. Near right temple was
bronze earring; in upper part of chest were
fragments of necklace composed of glass beads
and metal pendants; near right foot was vessel.
FIG. 6. Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, Grave
JP/072: (1) inv. no. P144735.
JP/072 (Fig. 6)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1976. Square O 89-3. Anthropological determination: child, 11.5 years. Oval pit (L. 100 cm,
W. 50 cm, D. 13 cm), orientation NWSE. Skeleton in extended supine position, with dislocated
chest and arm bones, and skull lying on left
42
Description of inds:
1. Necklace composed of various artifacts:
four glass beads, one bronze object in form of
lattened spool, and two bent bronze or copper
sheets. Beads: discoid transparent blue glass
bead with large hole; damaged globular bead of
reddish brown glass resembling ceramic paste;
extensively rusted cylindrical bead originally of
black glass, decorated with yellow glass spiral;
cylindrical bead of yellowish brown to olivegreen glass, transversely segmented four times.
Inv. no. P165038. Table 1, nos. 811; Table 2,
nos. 3538.
2. Fragment of small, ring-shaped bronze
earring with preserved knot on hoop. Inv. no.
P165037.
3. Slender vase-shaped vessel decorated with
diagonal indentations on neck and grooves on
upper part of shoulder. Inv. no. P165036.
JP/177 (Fig. 8)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1978. Square O 35-7. Anthropological determination: child, age unspeciied. Rectangular
pit (L. 100 cm, W. 40 cm, D. 7 cm), orientation
43
JP/202 (Fig. 9)
Beclav-Pohansko, southern suburb, year
1991. Square C 95-55. Anthropological deter-
44
TABLE 2
Glass Artifacts from Graves in Southern Suburb of Beclav-Pohansko
Inv. No. Research year Grave No. Item Material Preservation degree Form Color
Decoration Length (L.), Width (W.) Hole diameter (D.) Metal tube Swells Position in grave
pit Comment
1
Inv. No.: P38302/1; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete, with damage; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: transparent greenish;
L. (max.) 1.7 cm, W. (max.) 0.9 cm; Hole D. 0.3 cm; Metal tube: yes; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit:
neck
Inv. No.: P38302/2; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: transparent greenish; L. (max.) 1.7
cm, W. (max.) 0.8 cm; Hole D. 0.3 cm; Metal tube: yes; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck
Inv. No.: P38302/3; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: transparent greenish; L. (max.) 1.7
cm, W. (max.) 0.9 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: yes; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck
Inv. No.: P38302/4; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: transparent greenish; L. (max.) 2.0
cm, W. (max.) 0.55 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: yes; Swells: 6; Position in grave pit: neck
Inv. No.: P38302/5; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete, with damage; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.)
1.9 cm, W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 7; Position in grave pit:
neck; Comment: double-shell bead
Inv. No.: P38302/6; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.3 cm, W. (max.)
0.6 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment: double-shell
bead
Inv. No.: P38302/7; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.5 cm, W. (max.)
0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment: double-shell
bead
Inv. No.: P38302/8; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: transparent greenish; L. (max.) 1.2 cm, W.
(max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck
Inv. No.: P38302/9; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.4 cm, W. (max.)
0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment: double-shell
bead
10
Inv. No.: P38302/10; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.2 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
45
TABLE 2 (cont.)
11
Inv. No.: P38302/11; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete, with damage; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish;
L. (max.) 1.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit:
neck; Comment: double-shell bead
12
Inv. No.: P38302/12; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.2 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.15 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
13
Inv. No.: P38302/13; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete, Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 0.95 cm,
W. (max.) 0.55 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
spiral-shaped bead end (unevenness resulted from cutting of glass cane); double-shell bead
14
Inv. No.: P38302/14; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.0 cm,
W. (max.) 0.55 cm; Hole D. 0.3 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
15
Inv. No.: P38302/15; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 0.95 cm,
W. (max.) 0.55 cm; Hole D. 0.15 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
16
Inv. No.: P38302/16; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.1 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
17
Inv. No.: P38302/17, Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 0.8 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
18
Inv. No.: P38302/18; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 1.0 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
19
Inv. No.: P38302/19; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete(?); Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: pearly greenish; L. (max.) 0.8 cm,
W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.15 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 2; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment:
double-shell bead
20
Inv. No.: P38302/20; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: cylindrical; Color: green; L. (max.) 0.8 cm, W. (max.) 0.35 cm; Hole D. 0.05
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment: chopped glass
46
TABLE 2 (cont.)
21
Inv. No.: P38302/21; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: cylindrical; Color: green; L. (max.) 1.1 cm, W. (max.) 0.35 cm; Hole D. 0.05
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck; Comment: chopped glass
22
Inv. No.: P38302/22; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.15 cm, W. (max.) 0.3 cm; Hole D. 0.1
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
23
Inv. No.: P38302/23; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.3 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm;
Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
24
Inv. No.: P38302/24; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.3 cm; Hole D. 0.1 cm;
Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
25
Inv. No.: P38302/25; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.3 cm; Hole D. 0.08
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
26
Inv. No.: P38302/26; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.2 cm; Hole D. 0.08
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
27
Inv. No.: P38302/27; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/022; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.2 cm, W. (max.) 0.23 cm; Hole D. 0.1
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: neck
28
Inv. No.: P38327/1; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/028; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: plain olive-shaped; Color: green; L. (max.) 0.7 cm, W. (max.) 0.7 cm; Hole D. ? cm;
Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: chest; Comment: threaded on corroded iron stick (D. 0.3 cm)
29
Inv. No.: P38327/2; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/028; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete, with damage; Form: plain olive-shaped; Color: green; L. (max.) 0.8 cm, W. (max.) 0.7 cm;
Hole D. ? cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: chest; Comment: threaded on corroded iron stick
(D. 0.25 cm)
30
Inv. No.: P38327/3; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/028; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: plain olive-shaped; Color: green; L. (max.) 0.6 cm, W. (max.) 0.6 cm; Hole D. ? cm;
Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: chest; Comment: threaded on corroded iron stick (D. 0.3 cm)
31
Inv. No.: P38327/4; Research year: 1962; Grave No.: JP/028; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete, with damage; Form: plain olive-shaped; Color: green; L. (max.) 0.7 cm, W. (max.) 0.6 cm;
Hole D. ? cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: chest; Comment: threaded on corroded iron stick
(D. 0.2 cm)
32
Inv. No.: P144713; Research year: 1976; Grave No.: JP/065; bead; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: olive-shaped, longitudinally segmented; Color: dark green; L. (max.) 0.85 cm,
W. (max.) 0.8 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: yes; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: chest
47
TABLE 2 (cont.)
33
Inv. No.: P144715; Research year: 1976; Grave No.: JP/065; bead; Material: glass; Preservation degree:
complete; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: turquoise; L. (max.) 1.4 cm, W. (max.) 0.6
cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 3; Position in grave pit: chest
34
Inv. No.: P144735; Research year: 1976; Grave No.: JP/072; button; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: globular; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 1.8 cm, W. (max.) 1.2 cm; Position in
grave pit: chest; Comment: heavily corroded metal shank (L. 1.0 cm)
35
Inv. No.: P165038/1; Research year: 1978; Grave No.: JP/172; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: discoid; Color: dark blue; L. (max.) 0.35 cm, W. (max.) 0.8 cm; Hole D. 0.4
cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: right and left shoulder
36
Inv. No.: P165038/2; Research year: 1978; Grave No.: JP/172; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete, with damage; Form: globular; Color: red-brown; L. (max.) 0.9 cm, W. (max.) 1.06
cm; Hole D. 0.37 cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave pit: right and left shoulder; Comment: doubleshell bead
37
Inv. No.: P165038/3; Research year: 1978; Grave No.: JP/172; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete, with damage; Form: transversely segmented, cylindrical; Color: olive-green; L. (max.)
1.3 cm; W. (max.) 0.8 cm; Hole D. 0.2 cm; Metal tube: no; Swells: 4; Position in grave pit: right and left
shoulder; Comment: double-shell bead
38
Inv. No.: P165038/4; Research year: 1978; Grave No.: JP/172; bead; Material: glass; Preservation
degree: complete, with damage; Form: cylindrical, with applied thread; Color: black/light yellow; Decoration: helical; L. (max.) 1.3 cm, W. (max.) 0.5 cm; Hole D. 0.15 cm; Metal tube: no; Position in grave
pit: right and left shoulder; Comment: helix-like coiled light yellow thread
39
Inv. No.: P165051; Research year: 1978; Grave No.: JP/177; button; Material: glass/metal; Preservation
degree: complete; Form: globular; Color: gray-green; L. (max.) 1.9 cm, W. (max.) 1.3 cm; Position in
grave pit: between left arm and wall of grave pit; Comment: heavily corroded metal shank (L. 0.5 cm)
40
Inv. No.: P204397; Research year: 1991; Grave No.: JP/202; button; Material: glass/metal; Preservation degree: reconstructible fragment; Form: discoid; Color: transparent whitish; L. (max.) 0.8 cm,
W. (max.) 1.2 cm; Position in grave pit: ?; Comment: heavily corroded metal shank (L. 1.0 cm); shank
was breakaway
CHEMICAL ANALYSES
Selected glass items from the southern suburb were chemically analyzed and imaged using a scanning electron microscope (JEOL JSM6490LV) with an attached energy-dispersive
X-ray (EDX) analyzer. Square areas with sides
about 2 m long were examined, and spot analyses of tiny inclusions were conducted. The live
time of collecting an EDX spectrum was 60 seconds. Because of the historical value of the objects scanned, it was, in most cases, not possible
48
to mechanically remove the eroded surface layer. For this reason, the analyses were executed,
where possible, on those parts of the glass beads
that were not visually afected by erosion. Particular places were chosen with the help of an
electron microscope. For a detailed veriication
of the double-shell structure of the beads, selected samples were ground and polished on the
transverse cross section.
(3) Other glasses. Because of their inhomogeneous structure, it is very diicult to classify
them with accuracy (samples 11, 13, and 14 in
Table 3).
The glass used for beads exhibits some speciic chemical traits. The high SiO2 content in the
analyzed material is always compensated for by
low contents of alkaline elements, and the Na2O
content is considerably higher than that of K2O.
The high Al2O3 content can be identiied only in
glasses with low and medium SiO2 contents. The
high ratio of Na2O in the glass is accompanied
by an increased MgO content. Some glasses
show a signiicant percentage of PbO and CuO
(see Table 3). In terms of concentrations, however, this glass cannot be compared with groups
of binary lead, potassium-lead, and soda-lead
glasses, according to the work of ern, Hulnsk, and Gedeon10they cannot be classiied
with any of the deined groups (B, C, and D).
The mixtures of the abovementioned elements
are always linked with medium and low SiO2
contents in the analyzed glasses.
The microscopic and microanalytical examination has demonstrated that some of the glass
beads have many inclusions and inhomogeneities. These can probably be interpreted as: (1)
residues of minerals from the original glass or
melting agents (e.g., barite, monazite, and several sulides), (2) inhomogeneities in insuiciently kneaded material, or (3) tiny particles of color
additives (mainly phases containing copper, lead,
tin, chromium, or titanium).
Samples 4, 9, and 10 can be characterized as
double-shell beads (Fig. 10). The specimens represented by samples 4 and 10 were probably
49
TABLE 3
EDX Analysis of 14 Beads from Beclav-Pohansko*
Sample
SiO2
Na2O
K2O
CaO
PbO
FeO
Al2O3
67.14
8.32
3.54
5.55
2.64
9.38
66.72
8.78
3.72
5.91
2.63
65.87 12.30
3.09
4.81
67.38 11.73
3.11
63.80 15.37
SO3
MnO
MgO
P2O5
TiO2
CuO
Sum
1.74
0.71
99.02
8.35
0.83
1.42
0.55
98.91
1.56
8.73
0.60
1.52
0.58
99.06
4.26
1.25
8.73
0.62
1.52
0.55
99.15
3.36
5.38
0.86
5.85
4.13
65.12 13.50
3.60
6.11
0.87
5.71
4.14
99.52
63.96 14.80
4.92
4.96
0.84
5.93
4.12
99.53
63.38 15.62
4.72
5.04
0.58
5.46
0.74
4.00
99.54
83.20
4.11
0.40
5.38
0.55
4.58
0.76
98.98
79.79
7.75
0.60
6.29
2.98
0.71
0.73
98.85
79.24
7.27
0.94
6.51
2.93
0.80
0.59
98.88
83.45
3.41
0.63
6.07
0.98
3.69
0.83
99.06
70.50 12.44
1.98
3.84
0.88
2.81
1.04
5.94
99.43
69.64 13.91
2.05
3.90
0.42
1.94
1.00
6.46
99.32
69.32 13.89
2.22
4.04
0.47
2.05
1.08
6.26
99.33
70.61 12.86
2.30
4.13
0.39
2.09
1.05
5.89
99.32
50
0.47
0.60
0.77
99.52
TABLE 3 (cont.)
Sample
SiO2
Na2O
K2O
CaO
76.51 10.55
1.56
5.44
75.10 10.85
1.43
4.67
74.15 11.56
1.62
74.54 10.21
PbO
FeO
SO3
MnO
MgO
2.39
2.39
0.91
2.75
2.68
5.36
1.00
3.00
2.38
1.68
5.47
1.03
3.30
73.10 12.61
1.41
4.99
1.04
3.81
76.76
9.44
1.70
4.95
73.76
9.89
1.20
6.96
71.62 14.29
1.09
72.72 14.08
P2O5
TiO2
Sum
98.84
0.54
98.93
99.07
2.60
98.83
1.96
98.92
3.30
2.80
98.95
1.50
4.35
1.36
99.02
6.72
1.10
3.07
1.15
99.04
1.02
6.60
0.75
2.77
1.25
99.19
73.47 13.62
0.94
6.98
2.87
1.07
98.95
70.56 13.69
2.27
5.09
2.54
4.30
99.23
72.05 13.17
2.43
5.05
2.38
4.20
99.28
71.07 13.40
2.40
5.32
2.59
3.88
99.41
71.01 14.20
2.45
5.06
2.34
4.28
99.34
70.46 11.66
2.51
5.21
1.50
3.88
4.03
99.25
71.12 11.83
2.75
5.43
1.31
2.90
3.94
99.28
84.12
3.08
0.54
4.70
1.29
2.95
1.03
1.29
99.00
84.50
2.85
0.77
4.72
1.18
2.68
0.93
1.29
98.92
84.62
3.18
0.64
4.47
1.04
2.94
0.86
2.94
100.69
83.89
3.12
0.91
4.62
0.87
2.96
1.17
1.39
98.93
55.74 14.70
1.29
6.19
9.68
2.23
2.47
0.64
2.60
1.50
2.03
99.07
55.23 13.60
1.29
6.08
9.12
2.25
2.68
1.13
2.66
1.84
5.23
101.11
54.98 13.80
1.35
6.39
9.43
2.34
2.53
0.91
2.51
1.58
3.17
98.99
55.77 12.55
1.60
6.21
9.57
2.46
3.15
0.96
2.56
1.67
2.54
99.04
45.10
1.18
6.31
8.73
4.58
2.50
0.72
2.08
5.60
12.87
99.19
27.83
1.47
4.07
5.49
9.92
2.69 14.79
30.24
99.25
10
63.83 15.35
2.30
5.23
1.31
3.81
0.55
99.36
54.40
5.41
3.30
3.87
6.04 15.00
52.33
6.10
3.23
4.50
5.30 15.32
61.86
9.79
2.39
6.68
2.10
5.10
62.66 10.64
2.40
6.26
2.28
5.67
0.78
0.75
2.75
0.74
CuO
9.52
Al2O3
5.56
0.68
3.48
2.50
0.85
4.08
98.93
1.01
3.84
3.09
0.81
3.54
99.07
1.39
4.00
3.01
3.12
99.44
0.78
4.34
1.53
1.76
99.38
1.06
51
TABLE 3 (cont.)
Sample
SiO2
Na2O
K2O
CaO
11
77.30
4.10
1.50
6.48
69.22
4.08
1.09
6.10
65.54
3.54
0.92
4.24
77.28
3.67
1.22
12
78.96
9.75
78.33
PbO
FeO
Al2O3
SO3
MnO
MgO
P2O5
TiO2
CuO
Sum
1.73
3.19
0.98
1.32
0.93
1.29
98.82
5.61
1.87
4.11
0.86
1.07
1.71
3.17
98.89
8.01
2.91
8.00
1.16
1.73
3.16
99.21
6.26
1.68
4.00
1.24
1.03
1.57
98.81
0.74
6.63
0.97
1.35
9.66
0.63
6.66
1.10
1.42
79.08
9.86
0.70
6.61
0.95
78.76
9.64
0.76
6.47
13
75.14
3.39
1.35
84.88
2.46
86.12
0.86
0.49
98.89
0.57
0.60
98.97
1.12
0.51
98.83
1.03
1.62
0.58
98.86
5.49
2.90
6.89
1.01
0.48
1.67
0.87
99.19
0.91
2.71
1.67
3.79
0.75
0.53
1.42
99.12
1.59
0.59
3.78
1.28
3.29
0.93
0.55
1.08
99.21
84.08
2.88
0.79
4.93
1.32
3.51
0.82
0.80
99.13
14
83.44
1.81
0.71
4.77
2.57
5.42
1.05
99.77
84.31
2.55
0.32
4.61
1.51
3.79
99.65
49.06
3.32
1.72
6.68
0.51
99.76
46.04
2.08
1.61
4.53
100.00
0.64
0.78
1.14
14.57 12.74
2.13
9.03
30.90 10.19
1.34
3.31
* Glass analyzed in all beads. Diferent contents of some oxides in various samples
are related to inhomogeneity of samples. Oxide contents are in wt. %.
DISCUSSION
Glass Beads from Graves in the Southern
Suburb
In the southern suburb, glass beads were
found in only four of the 205 graves, and only
one grave (JP/022) produced a ind that we
could identify as a necklace, preserving 27 of the
original 30 beads. The other graves containing
beads were JP/028 (four), JP/065 (two), and JP/
172 (four), for a total of 37 beads (Fig. 11).
The necklace from Grave JP/022 (Fig. 3.1)
consisted of three types of beads: transversely
segmented cylindrical (19), cylindrical made of
chopped glass (two), and small discoid (six).
52
Sixteen of the transversely segmented cylindrical beads were manufactured by fusing two
glasses of diferent quality (cased glass made by
layering one type of glass on the other); the core
of the glass of lesser quality was made by drawing a glass thread into tubular form and winding colorless glass around it.11 The beads were
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid., p. 143, ig. 4.
14. Ibid., p. 145.
15. Danica Stakov-tukovsk and imon Ungerman,
Olivovit korliky terminologick poznmky a makroskopick pozorovania nlezov zpohrebiska vDolnch Vstoniciach
= Olivenfrmige Perlen terminologische Anmerkungen und
makroskopische Beobachtungen von Funden aus dem Grberfeld in Doln Vstonice (Olive-shaped glass beads: Remarks on
terminology and macroscopic observations of specimens from
the cemetery in Doln Vstonice), tdijn zvesti (Nitra), v. 45,
2009, pp. 3957, ig. F19.16.
53
54
Die Bestattungen in Beclav-Pohansko: Alte und neue Ausgrabungen (Burials in Beclav-Pohansko: Old and new research),
in Praktische Funktion, gesellschaftliche Bedeutung und symbolischer Sinn der frhgeschichtlichen Zentralorte in Mitteleuropa. Internationale Konferenz und Humboldt-Kolleg anlsslich
des 50. Jahrestages des Beginns der archologischen Ausgrabungen in Pohansko bei Beclav, Studien zur Archologie Europas, v. 14, ed. Ji Machek and others, Bonn: Habelt-Verlag,
2011, pp. 3538, table 1.
22. Stakov-tukovsk and Ungerman [note 11], table 1.
23. Milan Hanuliak, Velkomoravsk pohrebisk: Pochovvanie v 9.10, storo na zem Slovenska = Grossmhrische
Grberfelder und Bestattung im 9.10. Jahrhundert auf der Slowakei, Archaeologica Slovaca Monographiae, v. 8, Nitra: Archeologick stav Slovenskej Akadmie Vied, 2004, pp. 154
171.
24. Stakov-tukovsk and Ungerman [note 11], p. 138,
table 1.
glasses with inhomogeneous composition), making them similar to the discoid button from
Grave JP/202 (sample 14, Table 1.14).
55
Nothing has so far been found in the BeclavPohansko stronghold that can be clearly interpreted as a glass workshop or a glass kiln.
However, the presence of several types of glass
products (including goblet lamps, a lamp with a
handle, stemmed lamps, vessels, windowpanes,34
a smoother, buttons, and various types of beads
among them a bead made in the milleiori
technique35) attests that this commodity was
not in short supply in central Europe during the
ninth century.
Some types of glass products, such as lamps,
vessels, and milleiori beads, arrived in this area
along trade routes and through cultural and
It is very interesting that both types of artifactsglass beads and glass buttonswere
found exclusively in the graves of females (10
examples) and children (16 examples). Furthermore, the occurrence of buttons is associated
almost exclusively with children. One exception is from Grave H368 at the Manor Court,
which contained a male between 24 and 30
years of age.32 A large discoid bead and a grapeshaped silver earring were found by sieving the
graves backill, so it is certainly possible that
these inds may have come from some other
disturbed grave, perhaps that of a child. Similar
inds have been published from contemporaneous funerary areas in the territory occupied
by the former Czechoslovakia.33 Based on the
abovementioned indications, it can be supposed
that glass components of early medieval costume in Great Moravia were worn by children
and (mostly) young females.
56
57
CONCLUSIONS
Fourteen glass objects selected from among
the inds in the southern suburb of the BeclavPohansko stronghold were chemically analyzed:
11 beads and three buttons. All of them were
found in graves. They can be divided into three
basic groups, based on their SiO2 and alkali contents:
(1) Alkaline glasses, containing more than
10% wt. Na2O and less than 1% wt. MgO
(samples 1, 2, 47, 9, and 10; Table 1.3). This
group, which includes eight of the analyzed
beads, has a quite varied composition. Among
the inds in the group are a small discoid bead,
a plain olive-shaped bead, a longitudinally segmented olive-shaped bead, a drawn bead of
chopped glass, a globular bead, and transversely
segmented beads. In typological characteristics
and chemical composition, they are similar to
the glass group A2 classiied by ern, Hulnsk, and Gedeon.46
(2) Silica glasses, containing more than 75%
wt. SiO2 and less than 10% wt. Na2O (samples
3, 8, and 12; Table 1.3). In this group is a transversely segmented bead that D. Stakovtukovsk regards as a local imitation of imported segmented beads.47 Other members of
the group are a discoid bead and a globular button, both made of blue glass.
(3) Other glasses (samples 11, 13, and 14;
Table 1.3). Because of their inhomogeneous
structure, it is very diicult to classify them accurately. The samples included in this group
were determined by chemical composition. They
include a cylindrical dark-colored bead composed of two diferent kinds of glass, with an
applied yellow thread. Two buttons are also part
of this group. The glass of a discoid button from
Grave JP/202 contains many air bubbles that
may have resulted from insuicient puriication
of the glass paste.
58
These inds indicate that longitudinally segmented beads originated in central Europe. They
are most frequently found in Bohemian, Bavarian, and Moravian graves dating from the ninth
century to the irst half of the 10th century, often
with plain olive-shaped beads. Such beads were
present, however, in earlier Avarian-Slavic burials. It is believed, therefore, that plain oliveshaped beads may have been developed in two
parts of Europe independently,51 a hypothesis
that needs to be tested with chemical analyses.
The only multicolored glass bead from the
southern suburb is a cylindrical dark-colored
bead with an applied yellow thread, which was
discovered in Grave JP/172 (sample 11). Such
beads have often been found in late AvarianSlavic burial sites, so they are recorded in Moravia relatively early (irst half of the ninth century), and very rare inds from the end of the
ninth century have been reported.52
The so-called lead glasses, which are dated
from the end of 10th century to the 12th century, were not found in the southern suburb.
This conclusion fully accords with the ninthcentury dating of the artifacts discussed in this
article.
The glass beads and buttons were found mostly in the graves of women and children. It is very
likely that they represent a typical attribute of
these social groups. Despite the absence of any
direct evidence of the production of glass beads
and buttons in the Beclav-Pohansko stronghold, it can be supposed that this production
nevertheless took place here. Most of the glass
objects from Pohansko probably reached this
area through trade, gifts, or political-religious
contacts, or as spoils of war.53
59