On-site analysis of Islamic glass excavated in the Sinai Peninsula by a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for classification of glasses based on their chemical compositions

Abstract

Glass samples (8^th∼12^th century A.D.) excavated from archaeological sites (Raya and Wadi al-Tur) of Islamic periods in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt were analyzed in situ by a portable XRF spectrometer developed by our group. It was found that the content of Mn, Br, Sr, and Pb was useful to classify the non-decorated glass fragments. A total of 223 fragments of Islamic glass could be classified into the natron glasses (n = 127) and plant ash glasses (n = 96) based on their SrO vs. K/Ca plots. It is suggested that the content of Sr can be used instead of Mg in classifying Islamic glasses. In addition, it was found that TiO₂ vs. SrO plot was also useful for classifying Islamic glasses.