Ravenna, its mosaics and the contribution of archaeometry. A systematic reassessment on literature data related to glass tesserae and new considerations

Abstract

Written about thirty years after the very first archaeometric analyses carried out on the mosaics of Ravenna, the paper provides a methodical and comprehensive review of data published so far in the literature on this topic. Aimed at reflecting upon what can, according to archaeometry, be actually stated on the provenance and the manufacturing technology of the multi-coloured glass tesserae found in the mosaics adorning the Ravenna monuments, the rassessment delivers a re-examination of published data from a critical thinking perspective. Almost all of the available analyses on Ravenna mosaics have been performed many years ago, when scientific investigations applied to mosaic glass tesserae were at an early stage and the knowledge of manufacturing technology of tesserae was more patchy than today. Data obtained by former investigations carried out on assemblages of tesserae from different monuments in Ravenna and its surrounding area will be, thus, framed in the current research scenario related to mosaic glass production and supply in the late antique Mediterranean world, in order to define an inclusive background to be used as a re-starting point for further investigation and research.