Citation:
Kemp V, Brownscombe W, Shortland AJ. (2022) The investigation and provenance of glass vessel fragments attributed to the tomb of Amenhotep II, KV35, Valley of the Kings. Archaeometry, Volume 64, Issue 1, February 2022, pp. 147-160
Abstract:
Four polychrome glass fragments, excavated from tomb KV35 in the Valley of the Kings,
attributed to Amenhotep II, were analysed to further investigate the composition and
provenance of early Late Bronze Age glasses. An additional fragment, EA64163, cited by the British Museum as being stylistically analogous to the fragments from KV35, although with a findspot simply recorded as "Thebes", was also analysed. LA-ICP-MS analysis was used to
analyse multiple colours on the fragments to determine the major element composition, the
colouring strategies and establish provenance using trace element analysis. The resulting data
obtained was compared with four polychrome fragments of standard LBA Egyptian
composition, excavated from the palace of Amenhotep III at Malkata, previously analysed by
SEM-WDS. Analysis showed that the glasses excavated from KV35 are standard LBA glass
of Egyptian composition and were most likely produced in Egypt in the 18th Dynasty. The
fragment EA64163 is a low magnesia, low potash glass, comparable with Iron Age
composition, therefore should be reconsidered as a later glass. The analysis of glasses,
excavated from a reliable, early Egyptian context supports the proposition that glass
technology for multiple colours was established in Egypt at least as early as 1400 BCE.