Glass, alchemy and medicine. Evidences of domestic practices in the capital of the Andalusi Caliphate

Project Information

GALENE

Grant agreement ID: 101107411

DOI

10.3030/101107411

Project terminated on 18 February 2025

EC signature date 5 May 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 172 618,56

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GALENE (Glass, alchemy and medicine. Evidences of domestic practices in the capital of the Andalusi Caliphate)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The study of material culture is one of the main tools for understanding past societies. However, materials like glass have often been overlooked in historical research due to their limited presence and poor preservation in the archaeological record. Recently, the application of new techniques, protocols, and disciplines to the traditional study of materials in archaeology has demonstrated the importance that glass craftsmanship and related objects had for the economic and social development of populations throughout history.
The GALENE project, titled ‘Glass alchemy and medicine. Evidences of domestic practices in the capital of the Andalusi Caliphate’, aims to explore, for the first time, the significance of glass use in the fields of alchemy and medicine within the domestic sphere of medieval al-Andalus. By integrating various skills and multidisciplinary approaches, the project seeks to gain a deeper understanding of daily life during that period, as well as the knowledge and practices used by the population to care for their health.
To understand the significance of glass in the evolution of certain domestic practices during the medieval period, this project focuses on materials documented in archaeological excavations in Cordoba (Qurtuba), the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus. In contrast to other sites, the Islamic city was larger than the present-day one, which has resulted in the remarkable preservation of some of its suburbs.
The objectives of the GALENE project are as follows: (a) to define the categories of glassware intended for medical use or associated with personal care within the domestic contexts of the Andalusi Caliphate; (b) to identify the patterns of production and the possible provenance of these artifacts; (c) to trace the origins, development, and historical evolution of such glass vessels and objects; and (d) to determine their users, with special attention to female gender, and the level of expertise needed for medical glass objects. Collectively, these objectives converge towards a final aim: the establishment of an optimal protocol for the multidisciplinary study of archaeological glass, conceived as a methodological tool for investigating past societies and deepening our understanding of present-day social structures.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To achieve the objectives outlined in the GALENE project, seven work packages (WPs) were completed. The first phase (WP1) involved a morpho-typological and contextual analysis of glass artifacts recovered during recent archaeological excavations in the western sector of Cordoba. This analysis led to the identification of a group of small glass bottles, likely intended for storing and using substances related to personal care within domestic contexts in the large Caliphal suburb. In addition to these vessels, the study also identified glass items known as cupping vessels, which were used for blood suction treatments and to relieve minor muscular ailments. Furthermore, it noted the first evidence of glass production waste from the Caliphal period found in Cordoba. These discoveries have contributed to the development of a repertoire of glassware that will serve as a valuable reference for identifying and classifying future collections of Andalusi glass.
A comparative analysis of medieval glass production from al-Andalus and the broader Mediterranean region indicates the presence of local manufacturing alongside imports from the Levant. The findings played a crucial role in selecting samples for chemical characterisation in the next phase of the project (WP2). At this stage, priority was given to production waste and items believed to be locally sourced, as they provided valuable technological insights into a craft activity from a time and place with limited documentation. The archaeometric study was enhanced by experimental archaeology practices aimed at identifying specific remains. This was achieved by replicating the waste generated during various stages of the glass production process, known as the chaîne opératoire. These practices also provided a deeper understanding of the manufacturing techniques used to create particular types of vessels.
To enhance the understanding of archaeological and archaeometric data, a separate work package (WP3) focused on analysing literary and iconographic sources. These sources provide crucial information that supports hypotheses regarding the involvement of anonymous women in medical practices. This highlights the role of women in Andalusi societies as more than just domestic figures, placing them in the historical narrative as contributors of knowledge and practices that continue to be in use today.
This interdisciplinary methodology demonstrated the potential of archaeological glass as a valuable research tool and led to the creation of an optimal study protocol (WP4). This protocol is designed to extract the maximum amount of information from these materials and can be applied to future investigations, both in the medieval period and in other historical contexts. These activities were made possible through the development of additional works focused on managing and disseminating the project's results (WPs 5–7).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The GALENE project has significantly advanced research on archaeological glass, with a particular focus on the Andalusi period. The significance of the data collected has led to presentations at various international academic conferences, highlighting an area that has been largely overlooked in the study of Islamic glass. In addition, numerous presentations aimed at a broader audience have been held in university settings and museum institutions, with the goal of making the findings more accessible. This outreach work seeks to stimulate interest within the research community and promote greater public appreciation of cultural heritage.
The results of the project will be presented in scientific articles that: describe the successful methodology applied; include archaeometric studies about the technological and compositional data of the glass analysed; provide a detailed account of the identified typologies, including their morphological variations and contextual analysis of the findings; and highlight the insights that the study of glass offers into domestic practices in Andalusi society, with special attention to the information it reveals about the women of al-Andalus.
All the information falls within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically in reference to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), as the GALENE Project aims to enhance efforts to protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Presentation of the GALENE Project Results at the 19th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society

Showcasing the Results of the GALENE Project at Cordoba's Archaeological Museum