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LEAD ISOTOPE ANALYSES OF ISLAMIC POTTERY GLAZES FROM FUSTAT,EGYPT* |
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| Authors: | S. Wolf S. Stos R. Mason M. S. Tite |
| Affiliation: | 1. Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University, 6 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3QJ, UK Current address: Department of Geosciences—Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Fribourg, Pérolles, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.;2. Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University, 6 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3QJ, UK Current address: UniSdirect, University of Surrey, Senate House, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.;3. Western Asiatic Department, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada;4. Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University, 6 Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3QJ, UK |
| Abstract: | Lead isotope analyses have been undertaken on a group of Islamic lead‐glazed pottery artefacts from Fustat, Egypt, spanning the period from the eighth to the 14th century ad , that had previously been the subject of a comprehensive typological, chronological, petrographic and technological study. Comparison of the lead isotope ratios for the glazes with those for lead ores from Egypt, Iran, Tunisia, Anatolia, Greece, Sardinia and Spain provided information on the possible sources of the lead used in the production of the glazes. The results show that the lead used in glaze production by the Islamic potters at Fustat was most probably obtained from distant ore sources in Iran or Tunisia, Sardinia, Spain and the Taurus Mountains. Different ore sources were favoured in different periods and, to a limited extent, for different types of pottery, but at no time did the Fustat potters use the potentially more accessible Egyptian ore sources. |
| Keywords: | EGYPT IRAN TUNISIA SARDINIA SPAIN ANATOLIA FUSTAT ISLAMIC POTTERY LEAD GLAZE ISOTOPES ORES |