Roman glass-making furnaces discovered in Egypt’s Delta

Glass-making furnaces dating back to the Roman Egypt period (30B.C.-395A.D.,) have been unearthed in Egypt’s Delta archaeological site of Tell Mutubis, the Antiquities Ministry stated Friday.

The discovery was made during a magnetic gradient survey carried out by a joint mission of the UK’s Durham University, directed by Dr. Penny Wilson, and Egypt’s Mansoura University

Tell Mutubis, Egypt

Above: Excavation site- Photo credits: Ministry of Antiquities; Below: Pottery shard- Photo credit: Ministry of Antiquities

“Several glass shards, mortar and plaster pieces, limestone tiles in addition to glass pots, potsherd, and eroded coins were discovered in the site. These finds indicate that furnaces to manufacture glass existed in this area,” head of the mission Dr. Penny Wilson was quoted in the statement.

Tell Mutubis site

Tell Mutubis. Photo credits: Egypt Exploration Society

The detailed breakdown and the specialized studies, which were conducted on the pots and coins discovered at the site, confirm that it dates back to ancient Egypt’s late Roman era, Wilson said.

Tell Mutubis

Red-brick housing units discovered at the site of Tell Mutubis.Photo credits: Antiquities Ministry

A large number of red-brick housing units, storerooms, limestone-tiled floors along with walls covered with lute were also excavated in the area, Wilson said, adding that “the finds are significant as they indicate the cultural transitions during the Roman period to the early Islamic period, which started in the mid seventh century.”

According to Wilson, the site of Tell Mutubis, located in Egypt’s Delta governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh near Rosetta, is strongly believed to have been abandoned during Egypt’s Islamic era (641-1952.)

Source:

AncientPages.com