Analyzing the Physicochemical Characteristics of an Archaeological Glass Collection from Mexico City, Mexico

Abstract

Este trabajo es un estudio preliminar de análisis químico-físico de 20 fragmentos de vidrio arqueológico de la Ciudad de México, mediante microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB) con emisión de rayos X, hasta ahora no realizado en el país. El contenido de óxidos y particularidades físicas de las muestras permitió delimitar que: diecisiete coincidieron, relativamente, con los componentes identificados en vidrios europeos previos al siglo XVIII y tres posteriores a éste. Las características físicas microscópicas fueron diversas y manifestaron adherencias resultantes del entorno que genera su degradación. Lo anterior abre un panorama de análisis de contenido de óxidos y mecanismos de degradación del vidrio que permitirá avanzar en la comprensión del proceso de producción de este material en nuestro país. ___________ This paper is a preliminary study detailing the results of a chemical-physical analysis executed on 20 fragments of archaeological glass from Mexico City. The analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis, two techniques not previously applied in Mexico, for this purpose. The content of oxides and the sample’s physical characteristics allowed us to determine that approximately seventeen coincided with the types of components identified in European glass before the 18th century. The other three were identified as having come from a later period. The physical characteristics on the microscopic level were diverse and showed adhesions resulting from the effects of environmental degradation. This facilitates analysis of oxide content and mechanisms of glass degradation that will allow us to further our understanding of this material’s production process in our country moving forward.