From Egypt to Iberia: Glass ornaments reveal vast Bronze Age trade network

LBV unveils in a new article that a multidisciplinary study conducted by researchers from the University of Alicante (UA) and the University of Augsburg (Germany) has uncovered significant evidence of ancient trade routes, revealing that glass ornaments were brought to the Iberian Peninsula from Central Europe, Egypt, and the Near East during the Bronze Age.

The research, which analyzed 17 glass beads found at archaeological sites in Alicante and Albacete, provides new insights into the complex trade networks that existed during Prehistoric times. The team, led by Cinzia Bettineschi from the University of Augsburg and UA professors Virginia Barciela González, Gabriel García Atiénzar, Alberto José Lorrio Alvarado, and Mauro S. Hernández Pérez, recently published their findings, shedding light on the evolution of glassmaking techniques and the widespread exchange of materials.

The study reveals that during the Late Bronze Age (16th–12th centuries BCE), the Iberian Peninsula primarily used glass made from plant ash, a technique commonly found in Egypt and the Near East. However, starting in the Final Bronze Age, glass made with natron, a material linked to Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean, was also identified in southeastern Iberia for the first time.

One of the most significant discoveries came from the Cabezo Redondo settlement in Villena (Alicante), a key site from the Late Bronze Age. Researchers found glass beads made with plant ash, some decorated with multicolored bands, indicating sophisticated artisanal techniques and direct trade links with the Eastern Mediterranean.

Another notable finding was a bead made of Egyptian blue, discovered at the Peña Negra site in Crevillente (Alicante). Dating to the 10th to 9th centuries BCE, it represents the earliest known use of Egyptian blue in the western Mediterranean, providing clear evidence of extensive trade networks predating Phoenician colonization.

The study emphasizes the growing recognition of prehistoric trade complexity and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in archaeological research. These findings open new doors for understanding the cultural influence and trade connections that shaped early societies in the Iberian Peninsula.

By Naila Huseynova