非破壊X線分析による紀元前2千年紀の古代エジプト及びメソポタミアの銅赤ガラス製品の製法の比較

"Copper-red" is a technique used to provide red color by the reduction firing of Cu-bearing glass. To reveal the production techniques of copper-red glass in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia during the second millennium BC, nondestructive X-ray analytical techniques, X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, were applied to archaeological copper-red glass artifacts produced in these regions. As the results, Cu2O micro-crystal was commonly identified as a coloring agent for both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, although added amount of Cu showed obvious difference between ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In the case of Mesopotamian copper-red glass, Pb was also added intentionally to encourage the melting of an excess amount of Cu colorant into the glass matrix. Two difference thermal reducing agents, Sn and Sb, were identified in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian copper-red glass artifacts, respectively. It is thus concluded that individual production techniques to make copper-red glass using different raw materials and recipes were developed and used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia during the second millennium BC, the earliest stage of copper-red glass production.