The intriguing case of silicon crystals unveiled in ancient mosaic tesserae

A groundbreaking analysis of ancient mosaic tesserae from the 11th-century Daphni Monastery (Greece) has revealed silicon nanocrystals embedded within the glass matrix, challenging traditional assumptions about the origins of raw materials. Using micro-Raman spectroscopy, researchers identified these nanocrystals in all samples, suggesting a local glass production site rather than imports solely from the Middle East or Egypt. Statistical analysis further supported this finding, implying that the monastery may have had its own glassmaking capabilities.

Di Martino, D., Galli, A., & Martini, M. (2012). The intriguing case of silicon crystals unveiled in ancient mosaic tesserae. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 43(11), 1824–1827. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.4135