Exploring economy, society and culture through glass bangles: origins, circulation and cultural impact in the Western Indian Ocean

西印度洋考古记录中的玻璃手镯数量在世纪晚期和后中世纪时期大量增加，当时生产的重点扩大并延伸到亚丁，印度和东南亚。在这一时期，玻璃手镯在西印度洋周围的地方变得无处不在。该项目旨在了解中世纪晚期和后中世纪时期（约1200 -1700年）玻璃手镯生产和流通的传播，例如通过绘制生产区域和分布图，并通过考古学和对尺寸，颜色和装饰（包括正式类型学）的调查相结合，调查玻璃手镯的文化价值和意义。研究报告1.是否有可能在考古记录中看到手镯的年代和分布模式？2.能否使用成分分析确定生产区域？这些发现对西印度洋的贸易和交换网络有何启示？3.所确定的生产地区与所研究的手镯的既定类型和生产技术的差异有何关系？4.手镯的特征、用途和分布能告诉我们佩戴者的生活吗？以往的研究表明，为了了解这些物品在任何一个区域的流通情况，需要采取更系统和综合的办法。因此，该项目旨在通过考古学和尺寸，颜色和装饰的正式类型学的结合来了解玻璃手镯生产和流通的传播。通过绘制各类型的分布图并调查其特征，将探讨它们如何在社会中流通、被重视和使用。该项目将为系统分析这类人工制品确立新的方法和基准。学生将能够塑造精确的方法，并选择更深入的研究领域，随着项目的进展，并决定研究哪些装配。监督团队将提供输入，以确保该范围仍然在允许的时间范围内实现博士研究生。研究结果预计将以专著和一份或多份同行评审论文的形式出版，并将使用适当的数据库程序收集手镯的物理形式、装饰和颜色的数据，以及相关的背景信息。收集到的信息将用于确定分布和初步年表，并直接为科学分析对象的选择提供信息。拟议的项目将采用一系列互补的分析技术，以回答有关这些手镯的生产和用于制造它们的玻璃的来源的问题。数字显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）将被用来研究用于生产对象的技术方法。SEM结合能量色散X射线光谱法（EDX）和X射线荧光（XRF）将用于提供定量的主要和次要元素组成。这些数据将使这些物体能够被分成组成组，从而提供关于其年代范围和出处的进一步信息。所有上述分析技术都可以在BM的科学研究部获得。在项目期间，将探讨使用BM无法使用的其他分析技术的可能性，但它们不是完成论文所必需的。学生将能够在与主管的讨论中对项目的这一领域做出决定。汇集的材料数据库还将构成依据相关理论文献分析文化意义的基础，例如与性别和生命历程、消费和身份有关的理论文献。

The number of glass bangles in the archaeological record in the Western Indian Ocean increase massively in number and diversity in the late and post-medieval periods of the thirteenth century onwards when the focus of production widens and extends to Aden, India and southeast Asia. During this period, glass bangles become ubiquitous at sites around the western Indian Ocean. This project aims to understand the spread of glass bangle production and circulation in the late and post medieval periods (c.1200-1700) for instance by mapping production areas and distribution, and investigate the cultural value and meanings of glass bangles, through a combination of archaeological science and investigation of size, colour and decoration (including a formal typology). Research Questions1. Is it possible to see patterns in the chronology and distribution of bangles in the archaeological record?2. Can regions of production be identified using compositional analysis and what do these findings tell us about trade and exchange networks in operation in the Western Indian Ocean? 3. How do the identified production areas relate to differences in the established typology and production technologies of the bracelets studied?4. What can the features, use and distribution of the bracelets tell us about their wearers' lives?MethodologyPrevious studies have shown that in order to understand the circulation of these items in any one region, a more systematic and integrated approach needs to be adopted. This project therefore aims to understand the spread of glass bangle production and circulation through a combination of archaeological science, and formal typology of size, colour and decoration. By mapping the distribution of the respective types and investigating their features, it will explore how they circulated, and were valued and used within society. The project will establish a new methodology and benchmark for the systematic analysis of this artefact type. The student will be able to shape the precise methodology, and areas chosen for more in-depth study, as the project progresses, and make decisions on which assemblages to study. The supervisory team will provide input to ensure that the scope remains achievable within the timescale allowed for a PhD studentship. The results are expected to be published as a monograph and one or more peer-reviewed papers.Data will be collected on the physical form, decoration and colour of the bangles, together with relevant contextual information, using a suitable database programme. The collected information will be used to establish distribution and an initial chronology, and directly inform the selection of objects for scientific analysis. The proposed project will employ a range of complementary analytical techniques to answer questions about the production of these bangles and the provenance of the glass used to make them. Digital microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) will be used to investigate the technological approaches used to produce the objects. SEM in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) will be used to provide quantitative major and minor element compositions. These data will allow the objects to be divided into compositional groups which will provide further information about their chronological range and provenance. All of the above analytical techniques are available in the Department of Scientific Research at the BM. The possibility to use other analytical techniques not available at the BM will be explored during the project, but they are not necessary for the completion of the thesis. The student will be able to make decisions on this area of the project in discussion with the supervisors. The assembled database of material will also form the basis for the analysis of cultural meanings drawing on relevant theoretical literature, for instance relating to gender and the life course, consumption and identity.