I agree, too much emphasis has been placed on deriving dates from window
glass analysis.  Don't get me wrong I still take the time to measure each
window glass shard.  I don't use it much for dating.  However, for early
sites I would try it, but I have not worked on many of those lately.

I think analyzing color and thickness to look at window replacement episodes
or building construction or demolition episodes very useful.  I recently
excavated a site where I am eager to compare archaeological samples to
samples collected from windows in the standing structure on the site.  I
have also had great success at looking at window glass distributions
spatially to locate window locations on a building.  We actually
reconstructed a building with window location based on the archaeology.

M. Jay Stottman
Kentucky Archaeological Survey


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Moyer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2003 11:09 PM
Subject: Fun with Window Glass


> Hello All,
>
> While window glass dating has had some serious
> obstacles, it has proven itself extremely helpful
> dating structural remains and distinguishing building
> episodes. I think window glass is great for dating
> structures but lacking when it comes to dating sites
> or a span of occupation. As for ommitting them from
> the artifact analysis, I find it worthwhile if just a
> little tedious as long as there's an adequate sample.
> Gotta keep looking at the details. I find Roenke's
> formula to work well on late 19th century sites
> throughout the US. I also like Ball's study if simply
> because he includes color as a temporal variable, an
> attribute I'm not fully ready to give up on just yet
> and which the other studies tend to ignore. Also
> heavily used in the midwest is Moir's work and
> Christopher Shoen's thesis and article. The specific
> citations can be found on my flat glass bibliography
> at:
>
>  http://www.digitalpresence.com/histarch/glass.html
>
> What has been sorely needed is more window glass
> patterning studies as opposed to simply aggregate
> dating. Do other folks out their weigh their window
> glass, and if so, how does it relate to the
> fenestration of a building? While front facades
> typically have greater fenestration (ie, more windows
> per sqft) than the rear facades, back yard deposits
> usually have more window glass, reflecting both
> disposal patterns and differing breakage rates.
>
> On an interpretive level, I suspect that the
> examination of window glass exclusively as an
> "architectural artifact" is somewhat misleading and
> devalues the role windows play in the lighting of our
> homes, shops, businesses, etc.. Has anyone tried
> comparing the ratio of window glass to lamp glass?
> Might prove interesting in certain contexts. Also a
> fun way to spice up that "Lighting" functional
> artifact category nobody seems to want to talk about.
>
> Dave
>
>
> ---------
> David Moyer, RPA
> Birchwood Archaeological Services
> 70 East Masonville Pond Road
> Sidney Center, NY 13839
>
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