Glass from the Silk Roads. Insights into new finds from Uzbekistan
Abstract
The paper provides insights into an assemblage of glass finds from the citadel of Kafir Kala and the site of Cholaktepa both in the proximity of Samarkand (Uzbekistan). Located along one of the major Eurasian branches of the Silk Roads, passing through Samarkand, Kafir Kala is among the most relevant centres to better understand the Islamization of the Middle Zeravshan Valley in the early 8th century. During the excavations, hundreds of fragments of ceramics, and a conspicuous amount of glass finds were recovered. Chrono-typological study allowed identifying objects for everyday use like bottles, cups with handles and bowls with re-folded rims; fragments of decorated bottoms with a honeycomb pattern, showing a distinctive rosette stamp, were also identified. Moreover, glass debris from Cholaktepa, 11 km west of nowadays Samarkand, provided evidence for the occurrence of glass working. Compositional analyses, by electron microprobe (EPMA) for major and minor elements and by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for trace elements, have been carried out on selected fragments, aimed at investigating the compositional features of finds and their raw materials, to establish comparisons with published assemblages pertinent to neighbouring geographical areas and comparable chronological spans. All the glass fragments are silica-soda-lime in composition, made by using plant ash as fluxing agent, except two samples made by using natron. Compositional data show a link to the Ferghana Valley in Uzbekistan, where a local glass manufacture has been identified.