Glass counters from Komarov: roman imports or an «Imported idea»?

In this article finds of gaming glass counters are published, which were found at the Komarov settlement (Chernyakhov culture) on the Middle Dniester. The site is known for its glassworking workshop, the only one excavated beyond the Roman limes. Items in question found within the territory of Barbaricum were used for table games and are traditionally regarded as Roman imports. Pieces of raw glass of black colour, similar to that of the counters, were found also at the Komarov settlement. We assume thus that the latter were made here. If so, not all the counters from the territory of the Chernyakhov culture were Roman imports. It is possible that we deal not with direct imports of objects of material culture but with borrowing of certain elements form the «Roman way of life» by barbarian tribes. The counters could also have been custom-made by provincial roman craftsmen working at this settlement for game sets imported from the Empire to Barbaricum to replace lost items or were specially produced for burial purposes. Several pieces of such counters made in one or several colours but without a board have been found more than once in burials, including those within the territory of the Chernyakhov culture.