Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

MAREA

EGYPT

MAREA 2001: WINDOWPANES
AND OTHER GLASS FINDS

Renata Kucharczyk

This season yielded a good quantity of
glass finds (almost a hundred or so
fragments). Unfortunately, no new dating
evidence for any particular glass type has
been offered in consequence. Most of the
glassware may be widely attributed to
a period tanging from the 6th to the 8th
century AD. Some earlier forms, namely
bases with coiled foot ting, usually dated
to the 4th-5th century, were also
identified.]) Like most of the Byzantine
glass, the finds from Marea are made of
very thin bluish-green and greenish fabric.
The glass is usually transparent and
translucent with numerous small and big
bubbles. The recorded fragments are
mostly in good condition, but in a few
cases the glass has become discolored and
the surface badly pitted with heavy
peacock iridescence.
One of the commonest group-types
encountered in the assemblage are bottles
and flasks of various sizes and shapes. The
majority of them represent miscellaneous

types of small containers for liquids (oil
and scents) used in bathing (Fig. 1:4).
The funnel-neck bottle, one of the most
widespread shapes in the Late Roman-
Byzantine period, is a common form
(Fig. 1:1-3). The collected shards suffice as
a guideline for restoring a complete vessel
shape. This particular type is well attested
not only in nearby Alexandria,1 2) but also on
many othet sites in the Near East.3) Another
group consists of small toilet bottles for
perfumes (Fig. 1:6), which, contrary to other
vessels, are markedly thick.4) 5 Worth
mentioning is the upper part of a bottle
with a handle (probably a jug), also serving
cosmetic purposes (Fig. 1:3).
Of special interest is a bottle base
decorated with painted brick-red spots and
threads, dated to the 8th century.5’ Several
fragments of wine glasses, shallow plates
and bowls were also recorded in the
assemblage.
Apart from vessels, several fragments of
typical 7th-8th century tumbler lamps

1) D. Whitehouse, “The Glass”, in: D. Whitehouse et al., The Schola Praeconum II, PBSR 53 (1985), 164-171, fig. 5:55-
58; G.D. Weinberg, Excavations at Jalame (Columbia 1988), 58-59, with extensive bibliography for other sites.
2) M. Rodziewicz, Les habitations romaines tardives d'Alexandrie, Alexandrie III, pi. 73, no. 385.
3) C. Meyer, “Glass from the North Theatre, Byzantine Church and Soundings at Jerash”, BASOR Suppl. 25 (1987), 207,
fig. 10:F-G,M; A. von Saldern, Ancient and Byzantine Glass from Sardis (Cambridge-London 1980), 72-73, no. 478; J.W.
Hayes, Excavations at Sarachane in Istanbul, 2: The Pottery (Princeton 1992), 402, fig. 150:13; O. Dussart, Le verre en
Jordanie et en Syrie du Sud (Beyrouth 1998), 150, pi. 43:4-5; K. Gawlikowska, “The Collection of Glass Vessels in the
Museum of Palmyra”, Studia Palm. IX (1994), 25 pi. V,5.
4) For similar vessels, cf. C. Meyer, Jerash, op. cit., 197-198, fig. 8:H; D. Barag, “Glass Vessels”, Atiqot XVI (1983), 37-
38, fig. 9:5-6.
5) For parallels from other Egyptian sites, cf. G. Scanlon, Fustat Glass of the Early Islamic Period (London 2001), 65:32h;
D. Foy, “Secteur Nord de Tebtynis (Fayyoum), la verrerie byzantine et islamique”, Anlsl 35 (2001), 471-472, fig. 3.

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