| Abstract: |
R. P. Soejono spent much of his career engaged in research on the cultures of prehistoric Indonesia. In recent years it has become possible to derive much more information about the past through the use of advances in scientific analysis of artifacts. Investigators have long recognized the potential of beads to contribute to knowledge of prehistoric and early historic Indonesia. New laboratory techniques have yielded useful data on the technology and commerce in the production and circulation of beads. In this chapter, the authors recount the results of INAA analysis of 58 samples from glass beads, sheets and fragments, dating between the 1st and 17th centuries AD, found in Luwu, South Sulawesi, the realm of a major early kingdom of the Bugis (the largest ethnic group in Sulawesi). The beads were imported from manufacturing centres in India as of the 1st century AD, China as of the 11th century AD, and possibly Southeast Asia during the second millennium AD. Their chemical variation reflects the diversity of materials and manufacturing techniques employed in making glass beads in Asia during the last two millennia. The beads can be divided into different chemical types, each associated with specific periods: wound lead-rich glasses (12th-15th century), wound potash-rich glasses (2nd-16th century), and drawn soda-rich glasses (1st-17th century). Independent of colour, the wound lead-rich glasses and potash glasses were all low in aluminum (Al) while the soda glasses all possessed high Al concentration (>1-2%). Three beads diverged from the above pattern. Two mixed alkaline beads (32 and 33) were rich in calcium (12%) and tantalisingly similar in their chemistries. One bead (sample 2) combined the highest recorded Al (9%) with high potash. Fragments of glass vessels were high in Al regardless of sodium and potash content. Glass chemistry may be used to match beads and fragments. Tin opacification was used in some 2nd-10th century red and yellow beads, while the 12th-14th century lead-rich or soda-lime white beads appear to have been opacified with AS and/or Sb at levels of 0.2%-1.0%.
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