Journal Article

Early Islamic glass (7th– 10th centuries AD) in Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar: A microcosm of a globalised industry in the early ‘Abbasid period

Cui, Jianfeng, Henderson, Julian, Boivin, Nicole, Siu, Ieong, Ali, Abdallah K., Chenery, Simon, Crowther, Alison, Blair, Andrew, Fergadiotou, Elisavet

2023

Overview

Eighty-two glass vessels, recovered from the excavations at the ancient Swahili settlement and port of Unguja Ukuu in Zanzibar, Eastern Africa, were analysed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The results show that all of the glass samples are soda-lime-silica glass. Fifteen glass vessels belong to the natron glass type and are characterised by low MgO and K 2 O (<1.50%), suggesting they were made from natron, a mineral flux that was widely used during the Roman period and Late Antiquity. Sixty-seven glass vessels belong to the plant ash glass type, characterised by high magnesia and potash levels (>1.50%), suggesting plant ash was the main alkali flux. Based on the major, minor and trace elements, three different compositional groups were identified for the natron glass and three were identified for the plant ash glass: (1) UU Natron Type 1, (2) UU Natron Type 2, (3) UU Natron Type 3, (4) UU Plant ash Type 1, (5) UU Plant ash Type 2 and (6) UU Plan ash Type 3. Comparison with contemporary Middle Eastern glass groups shows that UU Natron Types 1, 2 and 3 correspond to Egypt II high Na 2 O, Levantine I and Levantine II respectively, while UU Plant ash Type 1 matches closely with Samarra Group 2. UU Plant ash Types 2 and 3 have unique chemical fingerprints that do not match any of the contemporary plant ash glass groups, but their chemical compositions show some affinity with the old Sassanian plant ash glass, suggesting a possible Mesopotamian provenance. Combined with existing research on early Islamic glass, the authors reveal a complex trading network in the globalisation of Islamic glass, particularly involving glass corresponding to modern Iraq and Syria, in the 7 th – 9 th centuries AD.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: 10th century / 9th century / Archaeology / Ashes / Biology and Life Sciences / Chemical composition / Chemical fingerprinting / Cities and towns, Islamic / Globalization / Interdisciplinary aspects / Investigations / Laser ablation / Magnesium oxide / Mass spectrometry / Mass spectroscopy / People and Places / Physical Sciences / Potash / Potassium carbonate / Raw materials / Silica / Silica glass / Social Sciences / Trace elements / Vessels