GLASS CUP FROM QARYAT AL-FAW SITE (4TH CENTURY BC – 3RD CENTURY AD) SAUDI ARABIA: AN ANALYTICAL AND TYPOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

The paper aims to study a rare Roman glass cup, consisting of a set of glass breakages, preserved at the Museum of Archeology Department - College of Tourism and Archaeology, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. The cup was found at Qaryat Al-Faw site (also Qaryat Al-Fau), the capital of the first Kindah kingdom (fourth century BC-fourth century AD). It is located about 100 km south of Wadi ad-Dawasir, and about 700 km southwest of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Qaryat Al-Faw archeological site reveals various features such as residential area, markets, roads, cemeteries, temples, and water wells. On the exterior surface of the glass cup, there are color graphics representing what seems to be Egyptian(zing) elements. This cup was the only one consisting of such elements in all sites cross the Arabian Peninsula. Scanning Electron Microscope and Differential Scanning Calorimetry were applied indicating soda glass type, and compared with the chemical analysis of con-temporary imported pieces from Egypt the present study indicated that no furnaces for the manu-facture of glass were found in Qaryat Al-Faw site, which promotes the import hypothesis. According to preliminary interpretations, it is likely that the cup was of a Roman origin and was probably made in Alexandria in Egypt and dates from about the late first-early second century AD, and apparently brought to the site by one of Qaryat Al-Faw merchants. Although Qaryat Al-Faw is also famous of glass remains, there are no information about any local production of glass in the site and no kilns had been found. The local glass industry at Qaryat Al-Faw site, if any, was not documented during archaeological excavations conducted by the Dept of Archaeology, King Saud University.