Vidrios romanos de Bracara Augusta (Portugal): Análisis Arqueométrico

Abstract

In this work Roman glass from Bracara Augusta, nowadays Braga (Portugal), were studied through their chemical composition, analyzing the major, minor and trace constituents using plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The obtained data were statistically analysed, with the following statistical methodologies: (i) various  univariate analyses and (ii) several multivariate analyses which gave rise to a sample classification using hierarchical classification and by multiple discriminant analyses. Results concluded that, while all the glass samples showed a similar composition in terms of major components, there were some significant differences in these and in the minor components that allowed their classification. Furthermore, discriminant analysis helped to establish groups based on the dating of the glass and include undated samples in the previous stated groups.