Silk Road glass in Xinjiang, China: chemical compositional analysis and interpretation using a high-resolution portable XRF spectrometer

► 65 glass beads from Xinjiang, China, analyzed by high-resolution portable XRF. ► Chemical compositions show sources from central China to the Mediterranean world. ► Early (1st c. BCE to 4th c. CE) beads mainly from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan. ► Most of later (4th-10th c. CE) glass more like Sasanian glass from Iraq.