Israeli Archaeologists Discover Large Medieval Glass Workshop in Hebron

Archaeologists have discovered an 800-year-old glass workshop in the Jewish settlement of Hebron, dating back to the Mamluk period (13th-14th centuries CE).

This was reported by ynet.co.il

The workshop includes both furnaces for primary glass production and furnaces for making tools. Yevgeny Aharonovich from the Civil Administration’s Archaeology Department noted that the site is a unique link between the region’s ancient glassmaking traditions and the famous Hebron glass industry of the Ottoman Empire.

Most ancient glass workshops were located on the coastal plain due to the availability of raw materials and trade routes. However, the large workshop in Hebron, located in a mountainous area, is evidence of local production using sand quarries nearby.

Glass made at the site of the glass workshop

(Photo: Yudan Flitman, Israel Archaeological Authority)

The results of the study of the ancient glass workshop in Hebron will be presented at a special archaeological conference in Jerusalem this week. The event is being organized by the Civil Administration’s Archaeology Unit, the Council for the Preservation of Israel’s Heritage Sites, and the Ministry of Heritage.

Archaeology Sergeant Major Benjamin Har Even noted that the conference will be a new platform for presenting archaeological data, facilitating a deeper understanding of the region. The Archaeology Unit continues to work to preserve and protect the ancient sites of Judea and Samaria, considering them an important part of Israel’s overall cultural heritage.

The conference will also feature other archaeological finds from various periods discovered in Judea and Samaria. The event will be attended by leading scholars and researchers from around the world, as well as hundreds of guests.

Source: stmegi.com