Sokendai Review of Cultural and Social Studies

ENGLISH SUMMARY

Scientific Research on Glass Articles Excavated
from the Manzaimachi Site in Nagasaki City, Japan:
Provenance studies by energy dispersive X-ray
fluorescence analysis and lead isotope analysis

SHINMEN, Toshiyasu

(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies,
School of Cultural and Social Studies, Department of Japanese History)

TOYODA (YUNOKI), Akiko

(Nagasaki City Hall, Department Culture and sightseeing cultural property section)

KAWAGUCHI, Youhei

(Nagasaki Prefectural Government, Governor’s Office for World Heritage)

SAITOU, Tsutomu

(The National Museum of Japanese History, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies)

Key words:

lead-potash-silica glass, potash-lime-silica glass, specific gravity measurement, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis, lead isotope analysis

Seven glass shards of the Edo period, excavated from Manzaimachi site in Nagasaki City, were examined using specific gravity measurement, X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), and lead isotope analysis. Five lead-potash-silica glass wares and two potash-lime-silica glass wares were identified according to their chemical compositions, corresponding to the results of specific gravity measurement. According to the archaeological information and the shards’ lead isotope ratios, three lead-potash-silica glass wares were made in Japan, while the other two were assumed to have been brought from China.