Abstract
The article presents the preliminary results of a study of the chemical composition of glass artifacts discovered at medieval archaeological sites located along the ancient Zhanadarya riverbed in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya in the Eastern Aral Sea region. The study focuses on materials from the Zhankala (Zhent) and Mortyk settlements, the Kumkala fortress, and other archaeological sites in the region. During the Golden Horde period, these settlements functioned as important centers of trade, crafts, and cultural interaction. The chemical composition of the glass artifacts provides information on the raw materials and technological processes used in their production. The results also contribute to determining the origin, chronology, and distribution of the glass and to reconstructing regional trade and technological contacts.Chemical analysis shows that glass from the lower Syr Darya was produced from local raw materials using distinctive medieval manufacturing techniques. Laboratory examination of the glass assemblage clarified its composition, chronology, and technological features, while also revealing interregional trade links. The use of local raw materials and geochemical resources distinguished glass production in the Aral Sea region from that of Iran and Egypt.