Phoenician glass mosaic bowl found with Rover UC in Middle East

Depth: 2.0 m (6.6 ft)
Region: Syria
Size: 14.5 cm x 4.5 cm | 5.7" x 1.8" (DxH)
Weight: 145 g | 5.1 oz


Treasure hunting in the Eastern Mediterranean with Rover UC

Usually, the finder of the presented treasure travels with his metal detector Rover UC in the south of Syria - in a region, in which numerous gold treasures from the time of the Ottoman Empire are suspected. The lightweight and inconspicuous metal detector Rover UC also allows treasure hunting in rough terrain, since only a smartphone is required for the first evaluation of the measured data. Without much preparation, the metal detector is immediately ready-to-use and does not only detect metals, but also distinguish between ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic metals. Instead of encountering the hoped-for gold deposits, the Rover UC detected a cavity while treasure hunting in the Middle East: A hidden burial chamber at 2 m depth was found in an ancient temple ruin. The treasure hunter was astonished as his discovery revealed valuable objects that are not made of gold. With the 3D ground scan function, his Rover UC tracked down the underground vault and led the treasure hunter to a successful discovery. The smartphone with the Rover UC App finally became a light source to illuminate the treasure find.
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl from above
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl from above: Here you can see exactly the spiral shapes and patterns
Smartphone as light source
Smartphone as light source: Usually the smartphone is used for treasure hunting with the Rover UC App and evaluation of the measured data. After a successful treasure hunt, the flashlight function also proves its worth.

 

Antique glass mosaic bowl - an outstanding find

The discovered glass mosaic bowl with a diameter of 14.5 cm and a height of 4.5 cm weighs about 145 g, according to the treasure hunter. Such detailed information on a treasure find reach OKM rather rarely, the more we are grateful for sharing this impressive discovery. At first sight, the bowl appears to be very detailed, but rather inconspicuous in color. On closer inspection, the artfully arranged glass stones stand out, revealing their full splendour only above a light source: A beautiful, green shining mosaic showing fish around a spiral-shaped centre. The discoverer of this treasure find describes the art object as a Phoenician glass mosaic bowl.
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl over a light source
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl over a light source: Above the light you can see the full splendour of the impressive mosaic glass art.

 

Rediscovered origins of glass art in the Mediterranean

The glass production was originally brought to Egypt by craftsmen from Mesopotamia. Syria and Mesopotamia became important centres of glass production in the Mediterranean region in the 9th century BC. In the Hellenistic period, i.e. in the reign of Alexander the Great, Egyptian glassworks in Alexandria again acquired a leading role. From there the technique of glass processing finally reached Rome. Early on it was possible to make open vessels such as jugs and bowls from colored, translucent glass stones. Together with the mosaic technique, complex patterns were created, as the presented treasure trove shows. By fusing glass threads together, further forms and stripes could be created.

 

Phoenicia* and Glass Art

Glass blowing was discovered in the 1st century BC in the Phoenician coastal town of Sidon. An antique glass recipe from this period describes the composition of 60 parts sand, 180 parts ash from sea plants and 5 parts chalk, which is still valid today. A special mosaic glass technique describes the incorporation of a reticella thread. The resulting reticella bowls can be recognized by their spiral shape.
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl
Phoenician glass mosaic bowl: Found in a burial chamber at 2 m depth in the Middle East.
In fact, the Phoenicians were not only sovereign in the production of beautiful glass mosaic bowls, but also in the trade with the extraordinary objects. The entire Mediterranean area was supplied from the glass manufactories in the coastal towns in today's Syria. The utility glass from Sidon and the glass artworks from Alexandria were exported in large quantities to Rome.
Trade routes of the Phoenician civilization in the Mediterranean Sea
Trade routes of the Phoenician civilization in the Mediterranean Sea: These routes brought Phoenician art objects and coins to the entire Mediterranean region. [CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons]

In its peak between 1200 and 900 BC, Phoenicia dominated the entire Mediterranean region as far as the Atlantic and was thus the greatest trading and naval power of antiquity. Phoenicia was famous in the ancient world mainly for its textiles and dyes (purple), objects made of precious metals, ivory carvings and glassware and had a significant influence on Greek art. Impressed by the production of glass, art spread throughout the Roman Empire and brought glass objects via the Silk Road to China.

 

Phoenician, Babylonian, Hellenistic, or Roman?

Phoenician art combines Mesopotamian and Egyptian as well as Aegean and Hittite style elements with indigenous forms and techniques. The numerous influences can be traced back to the eventful history of Phoenicia under various rulers:

It is up to the experts, who are able to take a closer look at this treasure find, to decide which period the artistically decorated glass mosaic bowl dates from.

* Phoenicia was located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, today largely bordered in Lebanon by the Lebanon Mountains to the east, Mount Carmel to the south and the Eleutheros River (today Kebir) to the north.



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