Did ancient glassware travel the Silk Road? X-ray fluorescence analysis of a Sasanian glass vessel from Okinoshima Island, Japan

A Sasanian glass vessel from Okinoshima Island, Japan, provides the first scientific evidence of long-distance trade linking Mesopotamia and East Asia. X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed that a ritual shard, now a national treasure, matches the chemical composition of glass excavated in Sasanian city sites, indicating it originated from workshops within the Sasanian Empire between the 5th and 7th centuries AD. This discovery suggests that glassware traveled thousands of kilometers along the Silk Road before being dedicated to ancient rituals on Okinoshima Island, offering new insights into the island's historical significance and the cultural exchanges of the period.

Abe, Y., Shikaku, R., Murakushi, M., Fukushima, M., & Nakai, I. (2021). Did ancient glassware travel the Silk Road? X-ray fluorescence analysis of a Sasanian glass vessel from Okinoshima Island, Japan. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 40, 103195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103195