Glass coloring works within a copper-centered industrial complex in Late Bronze Age Egypt

Excavation at Qantir, Nile Delta has provided insight into organization and development of an industrial estate of Ramesside Egypt. In founding the new capital of Egypt, Piramesses, during the 19th Dynasty, a huge bronze-casting factory was built, accompanied by a range of other, non-metallic high-temperature industries. Besides abundant production of faience implements, coated with copper-colored glazes, and the manufacturing of Egyptian blue, the coloration of large quantities of red glass also played a major role. In addition, cold working of a wide range of organic and inorganic materials on the site is evident. All crafts appear highly integrated, probably entailing a sophisticated assembly pattern. A shift in emphasis with time is apparent from changing installations within a few decades.The production of colored glass is attested by numerous crucibles, mostly with adhering traces of red glass, and a complete one liter ingot. Blue glasses of different shades are present, but much less abundant. While evidence of glass working by artisans is absent,there is indication that both the production of raw glass and glass coloring took place. The nature and complexity of high temperature industrial debris found at Qantir suggest a highly specialized labor organization within a framework of shared technologies and skills of closely controlled temperature and redox conditions. This cross-craft workshop pattern further reveals a significant level of intra-craft specialization and even spatial separation of glass making, coloring and finally working in Late Bronze Age Egypt.