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Roman-Era Glass Kilns Discovered at Foot of Mount Carmel in Israel

(Israel Antiquities Authority) During an excavation carried out as part of the Jezreel Valley Railway Project, remains of the oldest kilns in Israel were discovered where commercial quantities of raw glass were produced. These kilns (dating to the Late Roman period) indicate that the Land of Israel was one of the foremost centers for glass production in the ancient world. Yael Gorin-Rosen, head curator of the Israel Antiquities Authority Glass Department, said, "We know from historical sources dating to the Roman period that the Valley of Akko was renowned for the excellent quality sand located there, which was highly suitable for the manufacture of glass. Chemical analyses conducted on glass vessels from this period which were discovered until now at sites in Europe and in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean basin have shown that the source of the glass is from our region. Now, for the first time, the kilns have been found where the raw material was manufactured that was used to produce this glassware." Professor Ian Freestone of the University College London, who specializes in identifying the chemical composition of glass, added, "This is a sensational discovery and it is of great significance for understanding the entire system of the glass trade in antiquity. This is evidence that Israel constituted a production center on an international scale." The site was discovered last summer by archaeologist Abdel Al-Salam Sa'id, an inspector with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
2016-04-12 00:00:00
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