Ancient Glass Studies from 1st-2nd Millennium AD Africa: What Have We learned and Where Are We Going

Summary

The study of ancient glass in Africa has undergone a resurgence in the past 10+ years, particularly with regards to the integration of new and varied analytical approaches. Glass from Roman, Byzantine and Islamic Era contexts are increasingly undergoing scrutiny to explore modes of manufacture, access to raw materials, provenance of raw materials and finished glass goods, and the role that glass production and consumption played in those societies, to name a few. Advances in instrumental analytical techniques (e.g., LA-ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS, etc.) have allowed for the generation of more accurate, precise and comprehensive elemental and isotopic composition data. These data are providing new means to examine issues of production, trade, and consumption patterns in Africa through time. This paper will present a "state of the research" for ancient glass studies in Africa to highlight important contributions to our understanding of these issue in Africa. Important new methodological approaches also will be discussed. The paper will conclude with a consideration of future directions in African glass studies.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Glass and Glass technology: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Archaeological Research   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

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