Archaeometrical investigation of sicilian early byzantine glass: Chemical and spectroscopic data

A series of early Byzantine glasses, recovered in Ganzirri (Sicily, Italy), was analysed formajor, minor and trace elements. All the analysed fragments were found to be natron-basedsilica–lime glass. Concerning minor and trace elements, the samples can be divided into twogroups: glass with high Fe, Ti and Mn contents (HIMT glass) and glass with low levels ofFe, Ti and Mn. These results, strictly in agreement with literature data for glass of theMediterranean region, can be interpreted as a consequence of the wide trade networkestablished in this region and of the intense circulation of raw glass and artefacts fromdifferent Mediterranean areas. X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies at Fe and Mn K-edges,performed on HIMT glass, indicate that Fe is in the oxidized form while Mn is in the reducedform.