INAA of ancient glass beads from Sungai Mas archaeological site, Bujang Valley, Malaysia

The multi-elemental content of sixteen glass beads and eight glass samples from archeological site Sg Mas in Bujang Valley (finding from 5th to 14th century) were assayed by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Ten beads differed in colour and eight of them were opaque. Contents or twenty-four elements, which might be present in the samples as a flux, stabilizer, colorants or opacifier were examined. The elements Al, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Fe, Hf, K, Mn, Na, Sc, Th, Zn and Zr were detectable in all samples. On the other hand, concentration of the elements As, Ba, Ca, Cs, Rb, Sb, Ta, Ti, U, and V were below the detection limit in some samples. The concentration of elements found are discussed in terms of color and/or opacity of the glass bead and glass samples. Although the elemental composition does not fully explain the color and opacity of the studied materials, it can still be used as fingerprint of the glass used for the bead making.