Blue Glass Bowl from Roman Era Found in Nijmegen, Netherlands

A team of archaeologists in Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, has unearthed a perfectly preserved blue glass bowl dating back 2,000 years. The bowl, which fits in the palm of a hand, features a vertical striped pattern and an electric blue color achieved through metal oxide. Lead archaeologist Pepijn van de Geer told Dutch newspaper De Stentor that the craftsmanship likely originates from glass workshops in German cities such as Cologne or Xanten, or possibly Italy, but the manufacturing technique is Roman. The bowl was discovered at a site on the Winkelsteeg, along the Waal River, about ten kilometers from the German border. Van de Geer noted that for the residents of the settlement, the bowl would have been of great value, likely traded for cattle hides. At the time of its creation, Nijmegen was a Roman military camp, later becoming the first settlement in the present-day Netherlands to be named a "Roman city," granting local inhabitants Roman citizenship and rights. The bowl was made by allowing molten glass to cool and harden on a mold; the striped pattern was drawn while the glass mixture was still liquid. The excavation, conducted in preparation for a larger housing and green space development project, also uncovered Roman tombs, houses, wells, and objects such as tableware and jewelry. Van de Geer hopes these finds will help tell more about the people and their way of life.