Israel's Oldest Glass Factory Existed 1,600 Years Ago

The oldest glass factory in the world might have been located at an excavation site in Israel. The earliest kilns in Israel were spotted here, at a spot where archaeologists found that commercial quantities of raw glass were produced.

The kilns seemed to be about 1,600 years old, indicating that Israel may once have been the prime center for ancient glass production.

There were two built compartments in each kiln. One showed a firebox, in which kindling was burnt to make for high temperature. There was also a melting chamber in which raw materials were inserted and melted.

With large chunks of glass produced, chipped apart and sold in small pieces to workshops, manufacturers again melted them to create glassware.

"This is a very important discovery with implications regarding the history of the glass industry both in Israel and the entire ancient world," said  Yael Gorin-Rosen, head curator of Israel Antiquities  Authority Glass Department, who commented on the latest excavation. "We know from historical sources dating to the Roman period that the Valley of Akko was renowned for the excellent quality sand located there, which was highly suitable for the manufacture of glass. Chemical analyses conducted on glass vessels from this period which was discovered until now at sites in Europe and in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean basin have shown that the source of the glass is from our region. Now, for the first time, the kilns have been found where the raw material was manufactured that was used to produce this glassware."

Scientists thus learnt about the importance of Israel in the Early Roman period. With glass being used in almost every house after the Roman period, it helped to construct public buildings and was employed for utility items, such as windows and mosaics.

The new findings will be publicly displayed in a few months after being shown at the Carmel Zevulun Regional High School in the Zevulun Regional Council.