The study of chemical composition of Persian glass vessels of the early Islamic centuries (10th−11th centuries AD) by micro-PIXE; Case Study: Islamic collection in the National Museum of Iran

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science, reports reports, 2020-02, Vol.29, p.102034, Article 102034
• Main Authors: Salehvand, Navid, Agha-Aligol, Davoud, Shishegar, Arman, Rachti, Mohammad Lamehi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Early Islamic; Elemental analysis; Glassware; Iran; Micro-PIXE
• ISSN: 2352-409X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.102034

The results of elemental analysis of 19 glass vessels dating to the early Islamic periods which are kept in the National Museum of Iran are presented in this paper. The samples were discovered during archeological excavations in several Islamic sites. Elemental analysis of these samples is performed by micro-PIXE technique and major and minor elements of these samples are measured. Glass type, raw material used in their production process and colorant of the glasses in diverse sites are investigated and determined based on our results. The results show that almost all glasses found in all sites are high soda-lime-silica glasses. Since the amounts of magnesium oxide and potassium oxide in all analyzed samples except one sample are more than 2.5%, it is clear that the ashes obtained from halophytic plants are considered as supplying source for sodium oxide. Also, our chemical composition results have been combined and compared with the reported results from Iraq, Syria and Egypt. This comparison shows that glass vessels of Iran tend to cluster together in a distinctive group, particularly with regard to their Al2O3 and P2O5 contents.