Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF GLASS STUDIES, cilt.64, ss.11-32, 2022 (AHCI, Scopus)
This article presents evidence of primary glass production from the Late Bronze Age (LBA) levels of the site of Alalakh /Tell Atchana. Situated at the northern extremity of the Levant, the site is already known in the literature as one that has produced rich and diverse glass artifacts. Investigations using scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron contrast, and diffraction tomography of a crucible fragment found in a multi-craft workshop context have confirmed that glassmaking occurred. This new and unique analytical evidence contributes the first data from a Syro-Levantine area to the discussions of early glassmaking centers. Prior studies on the origin of glass, have given significant credit to Mesopotamia as the center of innovation, particularly because of the textual records and examples of early glass objects from the region. The current study also addresses the relationships and potential mismatches between textual and archaeological evidence. The discovery in Alalakh of a glassmaking crucible provides, for the first time, evidence for LBA glassmaking outside of Egypt and the core area of Mesopotamia, and it can be linked to descriptions of glassmaking in cuneiform tablets. We open a fresh avenue for scrutinizing and combining archaeological, textual, and scientific evidence for centers of innovation.