THE AUTHENTICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GLASS OBJECTS EXCAVATED FROM TELL ES-SUKHNAH, JORDAN

A sample of 29 glasses uncovered from Tell Es-Sukhnah, Jordan, has been subjected for XRF analysis. The group of sample consisted of two main categories: samples from glass vessels and glass bracelets. The main aim of this analysis is to identify and authenticate the raw materials used in glass production, manufacture technology and the technical choices related to glass objects from the Roman to Byzantine and Islamic occupations at the site. Chronologically speaking, the chemical analysis of the samples enables the distinguishing between Roman soda natron glass and Islamic soda plant ash glass at this freshly excavated site. The most important observation was that the transition in the use of traditional methods and of the same sources of raw materials for glass-making occurred, with obvious modifications, from natron to plant ash and from calcium-rich sand to calcium -free sand through the period from 1^st to10^th century AD at this southern Levantine site.