Excavations near the ancient coastal city of Haifa have revealed a Middle Bronze Age glass-staining workshop, shedding light on the early industrial capabilities of the Canaanite civilization. The site features several high-temperature kilns and a series of ceramic crucibles containing significant traces of cobalt blue and turquoise glass frits, which were used to create luxury beads and vessel inlays.
The discovery is particularly significant as it demonstrates that Canaanite craftsmen had mastered the chemical process of using mineral additives to color glass as early as 1500 BCE. Researchers found evidence of imported minerals from the Caucasus, indicating a sophisticated supply chain for raw industrial materials. This workshop likely produced high-end ritual items for the local elite as well as for export to the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, where blue glass was a highly prized symbol of status and divinity.