ARCHAEOLOGY
GLASS BEAD ARCHAEOLOGY
Click below for Sue's latest publications and videos on her research into glass beadmaking in Antiquity:
Click below for Sue's latest publications and videos on her research into glass beadmaking in Antiquity:
TESTING ROMAN GLASS IN THE FLAME
The results of a three year research project, Roman glass from the Basinghall Street excavations in London was put to the test to make hot glass beads using lampwork techniques. The results were fascinating and surprising.
The article is published online by EXARC and available (Open Access) here:
Testing Roman Glass in the Flame - EXARC
The research was also presented at the EXARC Conference 2023 and the video of the lecture is available online on YouTube:
The results of a three year research project, Roman glass from the Basinghall Street excavations in London was put to the test to make hot glass beads using lampwork techniques. The results were fascinating and surprising.
The article is published online by EXARC and available (Open Access) here:
Testing Roman Glass in the Flame - EXARC
The research was also presented at the EXARC Conference 2023 and the video of the lecture is available online on YouTube:
Glass Beads from Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain
A 15 minute video that Sue presented at the 2021 EXARC World Conference
A 15 minute video that Sue presented at the 2021 EXARC World Conference
Lecture for the Society of Antiquaries - March 2022
Click the button to see the video of the lecture on YouTube
Click the button to see the video of the lecture on YouTube
Experimental Beadmaking with Roman Glass - May 2023
Sue's presentation for EXARC Conference 2023 where she describes testing Roman glass cullet for making beads. Roman glass was recycled by the Anglo-Saxon to make their colourful beads. How different was it to modern glass used for beads?
Sue's presentation for EXARC Conference 2023 where she describes testing Roman glass cullet for making beads. Roman glass was recycled by the Anglo-Saxon to make their colourful beads. How different was it to modern glass used for beads?
Anglo-Saxon Glass Beadmakers
by Sue Heaser 2020
This illustrated article covers the basics of hot glass beadmaking as used in Anglo-Saxon times from the 5th to the 8th centuries AD
by Sue Heaser 2020
This illustrated article covers the basics of hot glass beadmaking as used in Anglo-Saxon times from the 5th to the 8th centuries AD
AngloSaxonGlassBeadmakers.pdf |
Bead Furnaces in Anglo-Saxon Britain
by Sue Heaser 2022
A lavishly illustrated article on Sue's research into the likely bead furnaces used in Anglo-Saxon times.
by Sue Heaser 2022
A lavishly illustrated article on Sue's research into the likely bead furnaces used in Anglo-Saxon times.
BeadFurnacesAngloSaxonBritain.pdf |
Millefiori Beads in Anglo-Saxon Britain
by Sue Heaser 2021
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 137
Millefiori beads and how they would have been made in ancient times.
by Sue Heaser 2021
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 137
Millefiori beads and how they would have been made in ancient times.
MillefioriBeads_Anglo-Saxon.pdf |
Twisted Cable Beads - Proudly made in Britain?
by Sue Heaser 2022
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 140
Twisted cable beads found in Anglo-Saxon graves and their likely makers
by Sue Heaser 2022
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 140
Twisted cable beads found in Anglo-Saxon graves and their likely makers
TwistedCableBeads.pdf |
Anglo-Saxon Treasured Heirlooms - ancient beads from afar
by Sue Heaser 2021
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 135
An article about rare exotic Roman thread-decorated beads that have been found in Britain - some in Anglo-Saxon graves
by Sue Heaser 2021
Bead Society of Great Britain Journal 135
An article about rare exotic Roman thread-decorated beads that have been found in Britain - some in Anglo-Saxon graves
AngloSaxonTreasuredHeirlooms.pdf |
Sue was interviewed on her Glass Beadmaking by Mamuz Museum
Click here to see Sue interviewed by Franz Pieler of Mamuz Museum. Sue's work is in the current exhibition of Experimental Archaeology at the Austrian museum:
Sue Heaser Interview
Mamuz Museum Website
Click here to see Sue interviewed by Franz Pieler of Mamuz Museum. Sue's work is in the current exhibition of Experimental Archaeology at the Austrian museum:
Sue Heaser Interview
Mamuz Museum Website
Archaeological career
Sue began her career working as a Finds Assistant for the Museum of London, handling the amazing discoveries that were being excavated from various sites around London. She then became an Archaeological Illustrator for the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments (now Historic England).
Her versatility and enthusiasm for reconstruction led to her illustrating the finds from many of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain including Dover, Grimes Graves, Mucking, West Stow and Portway East. Anglo-Saxon jewellery and beads soon became a passion and she spent many months at the British Museum, drawing the finds from Dover Buckland cemetery for archaeologist Vera Evison.
After many years writing books on jewellery making and other subjects for mainstream publishing, Sue has returned to her roots and is currently researching a new book on Anglo-Saxon beads and is using her skills in hot glass beadmaking to understand the techniques of the ancient beadmakers. She is also creating paintings of the glass beads to show how they would have looked before they were buried. Some of the illustrations are shown below - click on the images for more information.
Click here for Sue's research paper on Anglo-Saxon beadmaking: Anglo-Saxon Beadmakers
Click here for Sue's paper on rare Roman Thread-decorated beads for Archaeologia Polski: Thread-decorated beads
Her versatility and enthusiasm for reconstruction led to her illustrating the finds from many of the most famous archaeological sites in Britain including Dover, Grimes Graves, Mucking, West Stow and Portway East. Anglo-Saxon jewellery and beads soon became a passion and she spent many months at the British Museum, drawing the finds from Dover Buckland cemetery for archaeologist Vera Evison.
After many years writing books on jewellery making and other subjects for mainstream publishing, Sue has returned to her roots and is currently researching a new book on Anglo-Saxon beads and is using her skills in hot glass beadmaking to understand the techniques of the ancient beadmakers. She is also creating paintings of the glass beads to show how they would have looked before they were buried. Some of the illustrations are shown below - click on the images for more information.
Click here for Sue's research paper on Anglo-Saxon beadmaking: Anglo-Saxon Beadmakers
Click here for Sue's paper on rare Roman Thread-decorated beads for Archaeologia Polski: Thread-decorated beads