Posted on 07/11/2020 3:58:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
An international team of researchers have found a way to determine the origin of colourless glass from the Roman period. Using isotopes of the rare element hafnium, they confirm that the prestigious 'Alexandrian' glass was indeed made in Egypt...
The Roman glass industry was prolific, producing wares for drinking and dining, window panes and coloured glass 'stones' for wall mosaics. One of its outstanding achievements was the production of large quantities of a colourless and clear glass, which was particularly favoured for high-quality cut drinking vessels. The fourth-century Price Edict of the emperor Diocletian refers to colourless glass as 'Alexandrian', indicating an origin in Egypt. However, large amounts of Roman glass are known to have been made in Palestine, where archaeologists have uncovered furnaces for colourless glass production. Such furnaces have not been uncovered in Egypt, and hitherto, it has been very challenging to scientifically tell the difference between glass made in the two regions...
"Hafnium isotopes have proved to be an important tracer for the origins of sedimentary deposits in geology, so I expected this isotope system to fingerprint the sands used in glassmaking", states Gry Barfod. Professor at Aarhus University Charles Lesher, co-author of the publication, continues: "The fact that this expectation is borne out by the measurements is a testament of the intimate link between archaeology and geology."
Hafnium isotopes have not previously been used by archaeologists to look at the trade in ancient man-made materials such as ceramics and glass. Co-author Professor Ian Freestone, University College London, comments, "These exciting results clearly show the potential of hafnium isotopes in elucidating the origins of early materials. I predict they will become an important part of the scientific toolkit used in our investigation of the ancient economy."
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Simplified graphic showing long-shore transport of sands from the mouth of the Nile up along the Levantine coast (today Israel). Glass factories at Jalame and Apollonia used the sands in glass production during Roman and Byzantine times. Along the way North, some of the zircon minerals contained in the sands drop out leading to the different hafnium isotopic compositions of Egyptian and Levantine glass. Also shown is the location of Jerash, Jordan.
Credit: UrbNet, Aarhus University
I knew it
I saw the Pompeii exhibit at the Reagan library a few years ago. I was absolutely astounded by the quality of glassware they found. And that was 79 AD. There was one glass that looked exactly like a modern day sundae glass.
Interesting!
I’m pretty certain we would all be shocked if we could see all the ancient books ,tools, and everyday things.
Nothing like a few million barbarian looters to ruin a civilization.
There’s nothing beats living in the past.
Palestine???
They've got this really good chicken place.
some of the zircon minerals contained in the sands drop out leading to the different hafnium isotopic compositions of Egyptian and Levantine glass
Wonder if this was because of middle men adulterating
the supply as it traveled up the coast?
I don't know about you, but hafnium is pretty much my favorite part of the glass.
They definitely had it goin' on.
Did the get a free one with purchase of one day of feed for their donkey?
Hafnium empty or Hafnium full?
Haffull oe hafempty? Groan.
Thanks Nateman!
Wow....beat me by about 30 seconds....plus I had typo.
LoL
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