Primary Evidence for Glassmaking in the Late Bronze Age at Tell Atchana, Alalakh (Amuq Valley, Turkey)

This article presents evidence of primary glass production from the Late Bronze Age levels of the site of Alalakh/Tell Atchana. Situated at the northern extremity of the Levant, the site is already known in the literature as one that has produced rich and diverse glass artifacts. Investigations of a crucible fragment found in a multi-craft workshop context, using scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron contrast, and diffraction tomography, have confirmed that glassmaking occurred. This new line of evidence adds a unique aspect to the discussions of early glassmaking centers by providing data for the first time from a Syro-Levantine area. Prior studies on the origin of glass have given significant credit to Mesopotamia as the center of innovation, particularly because of the textual records and examples of early glass objects from the region. This current study also addresses the relationship and potential mismatch between textual and archaeological evidence with the aim of linking material culture to philological evidence by using the information on glassmaking from Alalakh. The existence of a glassmaking crucible provides, for the first time, evidence for glassmaking outside of Egypt and the core area of Mesopotamia, and links it to descriptions in cuneiform tablets. We open a fresh avenue for scrutinizing and combining archaeological, textual, and scientific evidence for centers of innovation.