Application of Kernel Density Estimates to Lead Isotope Compositions of Bronzes from Ningxia, North‐West China

The aim of this paper is to apply kernel density estimates (KDEs) to the visualization and interpretation of lead isotope data from bronze assemblages found along the northern border of central China, here designated as the Arc. New lead isotope analyses of 30 leaded tin–bronze artefacts from the Wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchaeometry Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 128 - 143
Main Authors Hsu, Y.‐K., Rawson, J., Pollard, A. M., Ma, Q., Luo, F., Yao, P.‐H., Shen, C.‐C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2018
Subjects
Archaeology
Bronze
Isotopes
KDE
Lead
lead isotopes
Ningxia
northern bronzes
Sculpture
Tin
Wangdahu
China
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Summary:The aim of this paper is to apply kernel density estimates (KDEs) to the visualization and interpretation of lead isotope data from bronze assemblages found along the northern border of central China, here designated as the Arc. New lead isotope analyses of 30 leaded tin–bronze artefacts from the Wangdahu cemetery (c.500–300 bc) in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, north‐west China, provide the basis for the discussion. By using multivariate KDEs and the calculated likelihood of the overlap, the present work shows that the Wangdahu objects feature a unique linear array of isotope ratios, representing an important element of overall bronzes from the Arc in the first millennium bc. This characteristic isotope signature is fundamentally different from that of Dajing ores in north‐east China, as well from that of early Qin bronzes in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. This suggests that a variety of metal resources were utilized by peoples living in the Arc. The KDE approach thus proves effective at presenting and comparing lead isotope data.
ISSN:0003-813X
1475-4754
DOI:10.1111/arcm.12347