The emergence of glassmaking in Kyiv is an interesting phenomenon related to the political and economic development of the new medieval state. Diplomatic and trade bonds between the Early Rus and Byzantine Empire, the adoption of Christianity as the state religion, laid the foundation for the emergence, development and spread of glassmaking production, which evolved into a large-scale industry.
Intensive archaeological excavations of the city have yielded a wealth of material for research. These include equipped areas for glassmaking activities and numerous production remains, such as collapsed furnaces, tools, raw materials, production waste (e.g. slag and probes), defective and finished products, etc. which indicate the development of production.
Currently, we can discuss various aspects of the glass industry: from working with finished trade/imported glass ingots to the recycling of glass products for reuse glass mass.
Also, the study of natural raw materials — the main glass-forming components used in glass production — is ongoing. Sand, limestone, carbonates and so on are important for identifying the basis of local production, as well as clarifying the location of raw material deposits outside the borders of modern Ukraine (for example, lead).
By using archaeometric research methods such as chemical analyses of glass, petrographic methods, mineralogical and geochemical studies of minerals and rocks, we will be able to draw conclusions about the origin of Kyiv glass, how glassmaking processes were organised, about the directions of trade routes and spread of Kyivan glass products in the 11th—13th c.

First Author: Olena Zhurukhina

Keywords:
Early Rus
Medieval Kyiv
Glassmaking workshops
Glassware
Archaeometric research