Revisiting lead isotope data in Shang and Western Zhou bronzes

Lead is a major component of Chinese ritual bronze vessels. Defining its sources and usage is thus highly significant to understanding the metal industries of the Chinese Bronze Age. A new, simplified method has been developed for examining data, thereby providing insight into diachronic change in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAntiquity Vol. 91; no. 360; pp. 1574 - 1587
Main Authors Jin, Zhengyao, Liu, Ruiliang, Rawson, Jessica, Pollard, A. Mark
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2017
Subjects
Alloys
Analysis
Anthropological research
Archaeology
Bronze
Bronze Age
Chinese languages
Copper
Degassing of metals
Excavation
Foundries
Historic artifacts
Isotopes
Lead (Metal)
Lead content
Metal industries
Metals
Metals (Materials)
Ores
Research methodology
Rites & ceremonies
China
supply network
lead isotopes
China
Bronze Age
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Summary:Lead is a major component of Chinese ritual bronze vessels. Defining its sources and usage is thus highly significant to understanding the metal industries of the Chinese Bronze Age. A new, simplified method has been developed for examining data, thereby providing insight into diachronic change in the origins of lead sources used in artefacts. Application of this method to the existing corpus of lead isotope data from the Erlitou (c. 1600 BC) to the Western Zhou (c. 1045–771 BC) periods reveals changes in the isotope signal over this time frame. These changes clearly reflect shifts in the sourcing of ores and their use in metropolitan foundries. Further data are required to understand these complex developments.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.15184/aqy.2017.149