A Study on the Provenance of an Opacifying Agent(PbSnO<sub>3</sub>) in Yellow and Green Glass Beads Excavated from the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The yellow crystalline material present in yellow and green glass beads excavated from sites in the Baekje region of Korea was previously analyzed through scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, revealing that the yellow crystalline material was PbSnO3. This material is a pigment that is rarely seen in the Korean peninsula. Furthermore, some studies have been published on the provenance of lead in this material, which revealed no relationship to Korea, China, or Japan. In this study, we collected all accessible results of analyses on the lead isotope ratio of yellow and green glass beads excavated from the Korean peninsula, specifically from 7 sites in the Baekje region(located in the vicinity of Seoul, Wanju, Hwaseong, Osan, Gongju, Buyeo, and Iksan) and 2 sites in the Silla region(located in the vicinity of Gyeongju and Changnyeong). We subsequently investigated the lead provenance of the opacifying agents in the glass beads through comparison with the current extent of the galena data accumulated for the East Asian region, including Korea, China, and Japan, and for Thailand(Kanchanaburi Province), Southeast Asia. Our analysis determined that the lead provenance of the glass beads excavated from the Korean peninsula was Thailand(Kanchanaburi Province). Beyond our results, further studies should seek to determine the production sites of the glass beads. Obtaining and comparing the scientific analyses of glass beads from India and Southeast Asia would enable research on the glass beads trade through the maritime silk road. Key words: Yellow and green glass beads, Opacifying agent(PbSnO3), Provenance estimation, Baekje, Southeast Asia