Medieval glass fragments excavated from Central Asia are being analysed for their chemical fingerprints to reveal who traded with whom along the Silk Road between the 9th and 15th centuries. This research addresses a gap in knowledge: while we know glassmaking originated in West Asia, it is unclear how the technology spread eastward and whether Central Asian glass was made locally or imported. By measuring isotope ratios in the glass and comparing them to those in local sands and plants, the researcher can trace the geological origin of the raw materials. This is the first detailed geological investigation of Central Asian medieval glass. If successful, the work will produce an isotope map—an isoscape—of the region, providing hard evidence for trade routes and cultural exchanges that are currently inferred from style alone. The project is fundamentally curiosity-driven, deepening our understanding of pre-modern globalisation. Similar fundamental research on ancient materials has previously reshaped histories of technology and migration, and here it could clarify how knowledge moved across continents long before modern transport.
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My research investigates how people made, used, and traded medieval glass excavated from Central Asia (9th-15th CE). This research explores how glass technology from West Asia, where it originated, was transmitted and adopted by Central Asia. By analysing the excavated glass, this research will uncover cultural exchanges, technological changes, and trade networks over time. To trace the origins of these medieval glasses, I will conduct isotope analyses of the excavated glass and potential raw materials- sands and plants. This scientific method allows me to identify isotope values that reflect an area's unique geological signature. Comparing the results from glass, sands, and plants can help me determine the origin of raw materials used in glass production. To achieve this, I am applying for a fellowship at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), one of Japan's National Institutes for the Humanities, and receive training in this technique. This will be the first detailed geological investigation of Central Asian medieval glass. I will also create a geological map of the isotope distribution (an isoscape) for the targeted area. This interpretation will also provide evidence for the specific areas with which Central Asia was in contact at that time through the origins of glass. RIHN has extensive experience using isotope analyses to study human-environment interactions in collaboration with the humanities. This fellowship will provide me with the research skills essential to archaeological glass research through training in isotope analyses.
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