Patrick Degryse

Plant ash glass from first century CE Dibba, U.A.E

This paper presents the chemical and isotopic analyses of glass from the first century CE excavated in Dibba (United Arab Emirates). The elemental composition was determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), as well as the isotopic composition using laser ablation-multi collector-ICP-mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) for Sr and solution MC-ICP-MS for Nd. This study revealed the unique elemental and isotopic composition of this material, matching the local geology and providing a strong argument for a previously unknown production site, possibly local, for this material. Two glass hues are observed in the assemblage (green and amber); both have the same chemical composition. The colour difference is due to differences in the oxidation state of the chromophores whether or not purposefully is unclear. The production of blown glass vessels shows a technology, not yet evidenced before, for this period in this region.