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ARCHEOglas-Website which is dedicated to experimental glass research.

 

Events

Projects

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EVENTS

Forthcoming events

7.-12. Jun 2022 Roman glass furnace project "Borg Furnace Project 2022 / BFP2022", Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg
16.-24. Jun 2022 Building and operating a glass furnace / workshop during the 2. Glassymposium Rheinbach, Glasmuseum Rheinbach / Glasfachschule Rheinbach (Germany)
9.-14. Aug 2022 Roman glass furnace project including the reconstruction and test operation of a small Roman glass workshop, Archaeological Park Cambodunum APC
3.-4. Sep 2022

Perlentreff mit Vorführungen in der römischen Glashütte (Treffen von PerlenmacherInnen), Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg

24. Nov 2022 Presentation "FIAT LUX - es werde Licht! Zu den frühen römischen Glasfenstern und ihrer Herstellung" (German language), Volkshochschule Ansbach / LIMESEUM Ruffenhofen

Past events

24. Apr 2022 Presentation "Feuer und Flamme für Glas - 15 Jahre römische Glasverarbeitung im Experiment" (German language), Kolloquium am Institut für Archäologische Wissenschaften der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt

9. Oct 2021

GlasTag 2021-Conference, Online & Allard Pierson - Collecties van de Universiteit van Amsterdam

25. Sep 2021

Demos at the Roman glass furnace - Annual meeting of the EXAR, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg

4.-5. Sep 2021

Perlentreff (beadmakers meeting), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

30. Aug 2020

Bead furnace demos and beadmakers meeting, RoemerWelt Museum, Rheinbrohl (Germany)

28. Jun 2020

Exposition and presentation "Der Betrieb rekonstruierter römischer Glashütten - die Forschungen der letzten 15 Jahre", RoemerWelt Museum, Rheinbrohl (Germany)

28. Nov 2019

Presentation "Der Betrieb rekonstruierter römischer Glashütten - die Forschungen der letzten 15 Jahre" (German language), Volkshochschule Ansbach / LIMESEUM Ruffenhofen (Germany)

5. Nov 2019

Presentation "Der Betrieb rekonstruierter römischer Glashütten - die Forschungen der letzten 15 Jahre" (German language), Trier University (Germany)

28. Sep 2019

Bead furnace demos, Glasmuseum Rheinbach (Germany)

22. Sep 2019

Museum's open day (including operating the bead furnace), LWL-Industriemuseum Glashuette Gernheim, Petershagen (Germany)

3.-8. Sep 2019 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2019, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)

31. Aug - 1. Sep 2019

Perlentreff (beadmakers meeting), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

10.-16. Jun 2019

Roman Furnace Project BFP2019, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

18.-19. May 2019

Demos in the glass workshop, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

6.-7. Apr 2019

Demos in the glass workshop, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

13. Oct 2018

GlasTag 2018-Conference, Mikulov

10.-14. Oct 2018

Test run of the large glass furnace / demos in the glass workshop, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

30. Sep 2018

Museum's open day (including operating the bead furnace), LWL-Industriemuseum Glashuette Gernheim, Petershagen (Germany)

12.-22. Sep 2018

Building and operating a glass furnace / workshop during the 1. Glassymposium Rheinbach, Glasmuseum Rheinbach / Glasfachschule Rheinbach (Germany)

3.-9. Sep 2018 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2018, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)

1.-2. Sep 2018

Perlentreff (beadmakers meeting), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

30. Jul - 5. Aug 2018

Building and operating of two bead furnaces, Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (Germany)

9.-10. Jun 2018

Roman Furnace Project BFP2018, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

30. Jan 2018

Symposium Mundgeblasenes Flachglas in Architektur, Kunst und Restaurierung, LWL-Industriemuseum Glashuette Gernheim, Petershagen (Germany)

20.-21. Jan 2018

Workshop Approaches in the Analysis of Production at Archaeological Sites, Freie Universitaet Berlin (Germany)

3.-4. Nov 2017

CEASARS @30 conference, British Museum (London, UK)

21. Oct 2017

GlasTag 2017 glass conference, Roemisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz (Germany)

28. Sep - 1. Oct 2017 EXAR conference, RoemerMuseum/Archaeological Park Xanten (Germany)
29. Sep - 1. Oct 2017 Conference FA V of the DGG (Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft) in Coesfeld (Germany)
6.-10. Sep 2017 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2017, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)

2.-3. Sep 2017

Perlentreff (beadmakers meeting), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

5.-11. June 2017

Roman Furnace Project BFP2017, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

18. Oct 2016

GlasTag 2016 glass conference, Roemerstadt Augusta Raurica (Augst, Switzerland)

13.-16. Oct 2016 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2016, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)
16.-18. Sep 2016 Conference FA V of the DGG (Deutsche Glastechnische Gesellschaft) in Ilmenau (Germany)

11.-12. June 2016

Conference Roman glass furnaces - contexts, finds and reconstructions in synthesis (with Roman Furnace Project), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)
Conference program - (Download)

16.-22. May 2016

Roman Furnace Project BFP2016, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

1. Oct - 6. Dec 2015

Special exhibition Formgeblasenes Glas, Mosaikglas, Rippenschalen und Fensterglas. Ausgewählte Resultate der Borg Furnace Projects 2014-2015, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

17. Oct 2015 GlasTag 2015 glass conference (registration required until 10. Oct. 2015; DOWNLOAD: GlasTag 2015-Programm in German language), Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)
12.-13. Sep 2015 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2015, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)

27. May - 7. June 2015

Roman Furnace Project BFP2015, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)

28.-29. Nov 2014 Things that travelled - Mediterranean Glass in the First Millennium AD, UCL Early Glass Technology Research Network conference, UCL Institute of Archaeology / Wallace Collection / British Museum, London
26. Oct 2014 Thementag Glas, Archäologisches Freilichtmuseum Oerlinghausen (Germany)
30. Aug - 19. Oct 2014

Exhibition "Der Glasgestalter Josef Welzel: Skulptur, Gravur und römisches Luxusglas" in the Glasmuseum Rheinbach (Germany); Download: Booklet

18. Oct 2014Glastag 2014 (Glass Conference), Saalburgmuseum Bad Homburg (Germany) - program
12.-14. Sep 2014 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2014, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)
18. May - 17. Aug 2014

Special exhibition 'CIRCUS BEAKERS AND RIBBED BOWLS. ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill, Works 1989-2012', Glasmuseum Rheinbach (Germany)

3. Jul 2014 Lecture "Zur Herstellungstechnik roemischer Rippenschalen" (in German language) at the exhibition "ZIRKUSBECHER UND RIPPENSCHALEN. ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill, Werkschau 1989-2012", Frank Wiesenberg, Glasmuseum Rheinbach
7.-15. Jun 2014Roman Furnace Project BFP2014, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)
19. Oct 2013Glastag 2013 (Glass Conference), LVR Roemermuseum Xanten (Germany) - program
4.-6. Oct 2013 Roman Furnace Project BFP2013, Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)
6.-8. Sep 2013 Roman Furnace Projekt VFP2013, Provinviaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium)
6. Feb - 4. Aug 2013 Special exhibition 'CIRCUS BEAKERS AND RIBBED BOWLS. ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill, Works 1989-2012', Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Germany)
20. Oct 2012Glastag 2012 (Glass Conference), Archeologigal Institue of Cologne University (Germany) - program

PROJECTS

ARCHEOglas.com features current research projects, which focus on the research of ancient glass manufacturing techniques and glass furnaces. Special focuses are on blown and formed glass vessels.

Main projects are the current Roman Furnace Project of the Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke in Belgium, which was started in 2008, and the new (summer 2013) Roman Furnace Project of the Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg in Germany.

Finished projects such as the Roman Furnace Project der ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill (2005-2006, see http://www. glasrepliken.de/p_glasofenexperiment_QFP.htm following) are not covered by ARCHEOglas.com.


Roman Furnace Project 'Borg Furnace Project' (BFP)

The first project ARCHEOglas will cover is the reconstruction of a Roman glass workshop based on an excavation in Trier (Hopfengarten), which was buildt in the Archeological Park Roman Villa Borg (Saarland / Germany). The furnaces were fired in October 2013 for the first time.

Building the glass furnace and lehr (late July to late Spetember 2013):

Experimental test run included recording the furnace temperatures and wood consumption data (30. Sep to 7. Oct 2013):

pictures (c) www.glasofenexperiment.de

The reconstruction and test phase of this hot glass workshop (summer/fall 2013) was covered by a bachelor's thesis and published by the Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg in April 2014: Frank Wiesenberg, Experimentelle Archäologie: Römische Glasöfen. Rekonstruktion und Betrieb einer Glashütte nach römischem Vorbild in der Villa Borg. Borg Furnace Project 2013.

In June 2014, this project was continued in cooperation with the ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill, François Arnaud (Atelier PiVerre) and the Archaeological Institute of the Cologne University as a seminar in experimental archeology. Glass blowing demos took place from June 13th - 15th.

The next project was held in May/June 2015 again in cooperation with the ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill, François Arnaud (Atelier PiVerre), supported this tome also by Torsten Rötzsch (LWL-Industriemuseum Glashütte Gernheim). This was a seminar in experimental archaeology by the Institut für Alte Geschichte der Universität des Saarlandes and the Lehrstuhl für Vor- und Frühgeschichte und Vorderasiatische Archäologie der Universität des Saarlandes statt. Glass blowing demos took place from June 6th - 7th, 2015.

In October 2015, the Glastag-conference in the Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg was accompanied by a Roman furnace project in the Villa Borg's glass workshop (October 16th - 18th, 2015). Further projects were undertaken in May 20th - 22nd, 2016 (Borg Furnace Project 2016 in coorperation with the Trier University) , June 10th - 12th, 2016 (conference Roman glass furnaces - contexts, finds and reconstructions in synthesis) and June 2017 (Borg Furnace Project 2017 in cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of Cologne University). The following project (Borg Furnace Project 2018 in cooperation with the Prehistoric Seminar of the Philipps-University Marburg) was scheduled for June 4th-10th, 2018.


The next project (Borg Furnace Project 2022) is scheduled for the second week of June.

 

Since September 2016, the Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg's glass workshop features another daub furnace construction (GO-Borg-2), which is intented to be used on a daily basis for research and glassmaking demosntrations.

 

 

Also the a bead furnace study is available for demos.

 

Further info is available on the project website www.glasofenexperiment.de (German language only).


Roman Furnace Project 'Velzeke Furnace Project' (VFP)

A quite long ongoing project is the reconstruction of a Roman glass workshop located at the Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke (Belgium). The furnaces were fired in November 2008 for the first time and used normally once a year for a one week project each September, which by now attracts many glassblowers and archaeologists not only from European countries.

Short reports and picture stories on the VFP are published by the www.glasrepliken.de-website (German language only).

This are some samples of the VFP2013:

pictures (c) www.glasrepliken.de

The next project in Velzeke is scheduled for September.


DOWNLOADS

Abstracts / Presentations

English version of the IRM2013 presentation is available for download:

Frank Wiesenberg, Making Roman Ribbed Bowls, with an introduction in the research of antique production theories. Lecture IRM2013 (English language) and Glastag 2013 (German Language)

Frank Wiesenberg, Chancen für Archäologen und Glasmacher an rekonstruierten römischen Glasöfen. Von den Glasofenexperimenten von Mark Taylor & David Hill bis zum Glasofenprojekt des Archäologieparks Römische Villa Borg (Short version of the Deutsche Glastechnischen Gesellschaft Fachausschuss V conference in 2016, German Language)
Frank Wiesenberg, Entspannendes – zu römischen Kühlöfen (Short version of the Glastag 2017 conference, German Language)

Publications

Frank Wiesenberg, Experimentelle Archoeologie: Roemische Glasoefen. Rekonstruktion und Betrieb einer Glashuette nach roemischem Vorbild in der Villa Borg. Borg Furnace Project 2013, Schriften des Archäologieparks Römische Villa Borg 6, ARCHEOglas 2 (Perl-Borg 2014)

This book was published by the Archeological Park Roman Villa Borg to illustrate the reconstruction and the first test firing of the Roman style glass furnace.

This book may be ordered at the Villa Borg. The sales price is 9,90 Euro (plus shipping).


Bettina Birkenhagen / Frank Wiesenberg, Zirkusbecher und Rippenschalen. ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor & David Hill Werkschau 1989-2013, Schriften des Archäologieparks Römische Villa Borg 5 / ARCHEOglas 1 (Perl-Borg 2013)

Download-link of the paper 'Zirkusbecher und Rippenschalen' (Circus Beakers and Ribbed Bowls. ROMAN GLASSMAKERS Mark Taylor and David Hill works exhibition 1989-2013. Roman glass in the Villa Borg; German language)

This catalogue was published by the Archeological Park Roman Villa Borg to illustrate the special exhibition (Febr. - Aug. 2013). Information about the research projects and the range of products made by Mark Taylor & David Hill are presented as well as some of the Roman glass finds of the Villa Borg.

This also is the start of a new series of publications named ARCHEOglas.

This preview document ist provided in corporation with the Archeological Park Roman Villa Borg. The complete catalogue may be ordered at the Villa Borg. The sales price is 9,90 Euro (plus shipping).

 


Frank Wiesenberg, Das experimentalarchäologische "römische" Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg (Borg Furnace Project). In: Michael Koch (Hrsg.), Archäologentage Otzenhausen 1. Archäologie in der Großregion. Internationales Symposium zur Archäologie in der Großregion in der Europäischen Akademie Otzenhausen vom 7.-9. März 2014 (Nonnweiler 2015) 315-322.

Download-link of the paper "Das experimentalarchäologische 'römische' Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg (Borg Furnace Project)"

(German language with English and French summary)

Frank Wiesenberg, Rohglas, Mosaikglas, Rippenschalen und römisches Fensterglas - Neues vom experimentalarchäologischen "römischen" Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg (Borg Furnace Project 2015, BFP2015). In: Michael Koch (Hrsg.), Archäologentage Otzenhausen 2. Archäologie in der Großregion. Internationales Symposium zur Archäologie in der Großregion in der Europäischen Akademie Otzenhausen vom 19.-22. Februar 2015 (Nonnweiler 2016) 265-272.

Download-link of the paper "Rohglas, Mosaikglas, Rippenschalen und römisches Fensterglas - Neues vom experimentalarchäologischen 'römischen' Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg (Borg Furnace Project 2015, BFP2015)"

(German language with English and French summary)

Frank Wiesenberg, Aktuelle Resultate der Experimentellen Archäologie: römische Fensterglasherstellung beim Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg. In: Michael Koch (Hrsg.), Archäologentage Otzenhausen 3. Archäologie in der Großregion. Beiträge des internationalen Symposiums zur Archäologie in der Großregion in der Europäischen Akademie Otzenhausen vom 14.-17.04.2016 (Nonnweiler 2017) 307-314.

Download-link of the paper "Aktuelle Resultate der Experimentellen Archäologie: römische Fensterglasherstellung beim Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg"

(German language with English and French summary)


Frank Wiesenberg, Das römische Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg („Borg Furnace Project“) – Rekonstruktion und erste Betriebsphasen. In: Gunter Schöbel (Hrsg.), Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 14 - Bilanz 2015 (Unteruhldingen 2015) 73-82.

Download-link of the paper "Das römische Glasofenprojekt im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg („Borg Furnace Project“) – Rekonstruktion und erste Betriebsphasen"

(German language with English summary)

Frank Wiesenberg, Rohglas, Mosaikglas, Rippenschalen und römisches Fensterglas – ausgewählte Resultate des „Borg Furnace Project 2015“ im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg. In: Gunter Schöbel (Hrsg.), Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 15 - Jahrbuch 2016 (Unteruhldingen 2016) 35-46.

Download-link of the paper "Rohglas, Mosaikglas, Rippenschalen und römisches Fensterglas – ausgewählte Resultate des „Borg Furnace Project 2015“ im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg"

(German language with English summary)

Frank Wiesenberg, Zur Herstellung römischer Rippenschalen. Resultate aus dem Borg Furnace Project 2015. In: Gunter Schöbel (Hrsg.), Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 16 - Jahrbuch 2017 (Unteruhldingen 2017) 104-115.

Download-link of the paper "Zur Herstellung römischer Rippenschalen. Resultate aus dem Borg Furnace Project 2015"

(German language with English summary)

Frank Wiesenberg, Glasperlenherstellung am holzbefeuerten Lehmofen. In: Gunter Schöbel (Hrsg.), Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 17 - Jahrbuch 2018 (Unteruhldingen 2018) 87-100.

Download-link of the paper "Glasperlenherstellung am holzbefeuerten Lehmofen"

(German language with English summary)

 

Bettina Birkenhagen/Frank Wiesenberg, Der experimentalarchäologische Werkstattbereich im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg. In: Gunter Schöbel (Hrsg.), Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 18 - Jahrbuch 2019 (Unteruhldingen 2019) 245-256.

Download-link of the paper "Der experimentalarchäologische Werkstattbereich im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg"

(German language with English summary)


Frank Wiesenberg, Experimentelle Archäologie: Die römische Glashütte im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg. In: Bettina Birkenhagen/Inken Vogt (Hrsg.), 30 Jahre Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg (Merzig 2016) 84-97.

Download-link of the paper "Die römische Glashütte im Archäologiepark Römische Villa Borg"

(German language)


The Römerstadt AUGUSTA RAURICA offers free downloading of these two books concerning roman glass and glassworkshops (in German language):

Beat Rütti
Die römischen Gläser aus Augst und Kaiseraugst
Forschungen in Augst 13 (1991)
Download part 1 (text)
Download part 2 (catalogue and tables)
Andreas Fischer
Vorsicht Glas! Die römischen Glasmanufakturen von Kaiseraugst

Forschungen in Augst 37 (2009)
Download

The latter may be purchased in print as well as the new (2015) two book publication by Sylvia Fünfschilling, Die römischen Gläser aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. Kommentierter Formenkatalog und ausgewählte Neufunde 1981–2010 aus Augusta Raurica (Forschungen in Augst 51).

Ordering and downloading offer of some other books: http://www.augustaraurica.ch/de/archaeologie/literatur-und-verlag/forschungen-in-augst/


 

Historic England (formerly English Heritage), Archaeological Evidence for Glassworking. Guidelines for Best Practice (Swindon 2011)

Historic England now offers the valuable service to download PDFs of several small publications covering archeological topics. Also, some of these publications may be ordered free of charge in printed form at least within the UK.

Contents:

How to use these guidelines
What is glass?
An introduction to making and working glass
The practicalities of investigating a glassworking site
What you may find: general indications of glassmaking and working
Interpreting finds: the evidence from different glassworking methods
Materials mistaken for glassworking waste

This PDF may be downloaded for free from the Historic England website:
https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/glassworkingguidelines/


 

Patrick Degryse (Ed.), Glass Making in the Greco-Roman World: Results of the ARCHGLASS project
(Leuven University Press 2015)

This brandnew book sums up the results of the ARCHGLASS project directed by Patrick Degryse (Leuven University, Belgium) dealing with the raw materials and glass trade of Hellenistic and Roman glass.

This PDF may be downloaded for free from the Oapen website:
http://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=513796%3Bkeyword%3Dglass+making

 


LINKS

Film: Mould-blown glass (ENNION jug / ewer and beaker)


"ROMAN MOLD-BLOWN GLASS" - YOUTUBE-LINK

A short film explaining the making of mould-blown glass on the Corning Museum of Glass' YouTube-Channel. Filmed at the Borg Furnace Project (BFP2014) in the Archaeological Park Roman Villa Borg (glassmakers: Mark Taylor / Francois Arnaud; assistents: Bettina Birkenhagen, / Frank Wiesenberg; video: David Hill / Manuela Arz; editing: Corning Museum of Glass).

Podcast: Seen Through Glass


"SEEN THROUGH GLASS" - YOUTUBE-LINK
EXARC Finally Friday Episode 15 - Seen Through Glass. Podcast/interwiew of about 30 minute duration featuring Sue Heaser and Frank Wiesenberg. Topics: Roman and Medieval glass beads, glass furnaces, and glass vessels and their reconstruction and manufacturing techniques. Host: Phoebe Baker
20220525 - V1.103 - copyright © 2013-2022 Frank Wiesenberg, www.archeoglas.com / www.archeoglas.de / www.archaeoglas.de / archeoglas.glasofenexperiment.de - IMPRESSUM