Archaeological research carried out since 2001 at Banganarti (the site is located between the Third and Fourth cataracts, about 10 km from Old Dongola) has led to the discovery of the remains of a church and a fortified settlement surrounding it. Excavations have brought numerous finds, including more than 120 fragments of glass vessels, dating from the 7th to the 16th century. Various types of bottles, windowpanes, fragments of vessels with tonged, mold blown decoration and marvered glasses can be distinguished. The chemical composition of 58 glass fragments was carried out. Almost all the samples analysed can be classified in the sodium glass group. The samples examined were assigned to pre-established glass groups, allowing the chronology of important changes in glass production in the region to be determined.  The results indicate that in the early Islamic period (7th to 9th century) the glassware that reached Banganarti was mainly produced using natron. Fragments of glass vessels from the 10th/ 11th to the 16th century belong to glasses smelted using the ashes of halophytic plants.

Change in chemical compositions of Islamic glass excavated in Banganarti, Sudan