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

通过玻璃手镯探索经济、社会和文化：西印度洋的起源、流通和文化影响

• 批准号: 2260912
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Kent
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2260912
• 关键词: Exploring; economy; society; culture; through

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.

西印度洋考古记录中的玻璃手镯数量和多样性在十三世纪晚期和中世纪后时期大幅增加，生产重点扩大并延伸到亚丁、印度和东南亚。在此期间，玻璃手镯在西印度洋周围的地方随处可见。该项目旨在通过绘制生产区域和分布图等方式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情况，并通过结合多种方式研究玻璃手镯的文化价值和意义。考古科学和尺寸、颜色和装饰的调查（包括形式类型学）。研究问题1．是否可以从考古记录中看出手镯的年代和分布规律？2．可以使用成分分析来确定生产区域吗？这些发现告诉我们有关西印度洋运作中的贸易和交换网络的哪些信息？ 3. 所确定的生产区域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、用途和分布可以告诉我们佩戴者的哪些生活？方法论 先前的研究表明，为了了解这些物品在任何一个地区的流通情况，需要采用更加系统和综合的方法。因此，该项目旨在通过结合考古科学以及尺寸、颜色和装饰的形式类型学来了解玻璃手镯生产和流通的传播。通过绘制各种类型的分布并调查其特征，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种文物类型建立新的方法和基准。随着项目的进展，学生将能够形成精确的方法论和选择进行更深入研究的领域，并决定研究哪些组合。监督团队将提供意见，以确保在博士生奖学金允许的时间内可以实现该范围。研究结果预计将以专着和一篇或多篇同行评审论文的形式出版。将使用合适的数据库程序收集手镯的物理形状、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建立分布和初步年表，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补充分析技术来回答有关这些手镯的生产以及用于制造它们的玻璃来源的问题。数字显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）将用于研究生产这些物体的技术方法。 SEM 与能量色散 X 射线光谱 (EDX) 和 X 射线荧光 (XRF) 相结合，将用于提供定量的主要和次要元素成分。这些数据将允许将对象分为组成组，这将提供有关其时间范围和出处的进一步信息。 BM 科学研究部可提供上述所有分析技术。项目期间将探索使用 BM 不可用的其他分析技术的可能性，但它们对于完成论文不是必需的。学生将能够与导师讨论，就该项目领域做出决定。汇集的材料数据库还将构成利用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、消费和身份有关的文化意义。