Between east and west: Glass beads from the eighth to third centuries bce from Poland

The study analyses the chemical composition of 57 glass samples from 40 beads discovered at 20 archaeological sites in Poland. The beads are dated to Hallstatt C–Early La Tène periods ( c .800/750–260/250 bce ). Analyses were carried out using laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). Two groups were distinguished among the glasses based on the MgO/K 2 O ratio: high‐magnesium glass (HMG), five samples; and low‐magnesium glass (LMG), 52 samples. The former were melted with halophyte plant ash, the second with mineral soda. These glasses were produced in the Eastern Mediterranean (more likely in Mesopotamia or Syro‐Palestine than in Egypt) and transported in the form of semi‐products to secondary glass workshops in Europe. Some of the white opaque glass was coloured and opacified in Europe.