Late antique glass assemblage from Serdica | Poznoantično stekleno gradivo iz Serdike

Abstract

An assemblage of more than thirty individual glass vessels was found inside a water well during the 2012 archaeological research of the Western Gate of Serdica site in present day Sofia, Bulgaria. Conical and hemispherical vessels, lamps and jugs/flasks are among the identified shapes. The finds illustrate different finishing and decorating (both hot- and cold-working) techniques. The well went out of use and was filled with debris in the course of the 5th century. Based on the listed parallels, the glass finds could be dated between the 4th and the 6th centuries. Such relatively long time span could owe to the not entirely certain initial period of using the facility as a dump site and also to the attested building activities in the area during the 6th century, which might have disrupted the deposit’s stratigraphy.