Characterization of Ancient Japanese Glass Excavated from Aechaeological Sites of the Epi-Jomon Period in Hokkaido by XRF Analysis

Ancient glass beads from the Epi-Jomon period, excavated from 7 archaeological sites in Hokkaido, were non-destructively analyzed by using a portable XRF spectrometer. The origin and distribution of the glass beads were analyzed based on their quantitative chemical compositions. The chemical compositions of glass beads from Hokkaido can be classified into two glass types based on their major components: i.e., potash silica glass type (K2O–SiO2) and soda lime silica glass (Na2O–CaO–SiO2). The heavy trace element compsitions of glass beads excavated from Hokkaido were basically similar to those excavated from the Kyushu region, Kanto region and Southeast Asia, as reported in our previous studies. From these results it has been found for the first time that glass beads exist with the same origin as those from Honshu distibuted in Hokkaido in Epi-Jomon period.