The possibilities and limitations of various scientific techniques used for the analysis of the composition of ancient glass are reviewed and illustrated, with examples of tests made on ancient glass. Chemical analysis, which may, in the future, be used to establish the provenience and date of pieces of glass through trace element analysis, is aided by new developments such as x-ray fluorescence (useful for analysis of the surface), neutron activation analysis, the electron microbeam prove (non-destructive), x-ray diffraction, and isotope studies (for lead and oxygen). Dating techniques now available are, unfortunately, inadequate.