Economic And Chemical Analyses Of Glass Weights

The present paper deals with a particular application of glass, used from the 6th century for weighing gold coins. Byzantine glass weights were manufactured either with stamps that formed a slightly raised rim, or by pressing a glass drop with flat pincers, thus obtaining a flat rim. Islamic glass weights produced from the second half of the 7th century are described as well. In order to trace the provenance of two glass weights excavated in Egypt and Sicily, their chemical composition was determined by X-ray micro-analysis, which showed that both glasses were melted using coastal plant soda-lime ash as a flux. The origin & function of a group of glass weights excavated in Sicily is also discussed.