Early Bronze Age faience from Northern Italy and Slovakia: A comparative archaeometric study.

Early Bronze Age faience beads from Italy (Lavagnone) and Slovakia (My ́tna Nová Ves and Nizná MySl’a) were analysed by SEM-EDS, computerised 2-D image analysis, EPMA, and XRPD. The glass phase in the faience is present in different amount and invariably shows a mixed alkali composition, with the exception of two Carpathian samples showing an unusually Cu-rich glassy matrix. The chemical and mineralogical results seem to indicate a local production based on very similar glassmaking technology, and the use of different starting materials