Glass-working evidence at Dibba, United Arab Emirates: An archaeometric study

Abstract

Glass ingots found in an archaeological site discovered at the town of Dibba, United Arab Emirates, were analyzed using X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in order to establish their elemental composition, and their association to glassware fragments found in the same site.Quantitative XRF analysis of the samples revealed that the glass under investigation is based on plant ash soda-lime glass, with soda predominant over potash, lime, and magnesia indicating the use of a plant ash source for the alkali. The results also showed that all the samples have similar elemental composition, with little variations in concentrations.Our findings prove that the glassware and ingots found in the site have the same elemental compositions. The sheer volume of glass ingots discovered in the site, coupled with the presence of glassware fragments, indicate the existence of a glass workshop in Dibba archaeological site during the period between the late first century BCE and the end of the first century AD.