Chinese Lacquerware from the Pazyryk Burial Ground Chineta II, Altai

Abstract

This article describes fragments of lacquer from the early nomadic burials in mounds 21 and 31 at Chineta II, northwestern Altai. Their location in the graves, material, and distribution pattern suggest that these fragments belonged to wooden cups. The analysis, which included methods of analytical chemistry, infrared and Fourier spectrometry, revealed that the remains of paint resembled that on Chinese lacquerware coatings based on qi-lacquer 生漆. The analysis of paint layers showed that lacquer coatings were manufactured following the traditional technology used in ancient China. The red upper layers, similar to those known as zhu-qi 朱漆, were applied over the dark brown layers of qi-lacquer (漆). Parallels are found among the Chinese lacquers from Pazyryk, Noin-Ula, Bugry II, etc., owned by the State Hermitage Museum. The comparison of samples from Chineta II with those from highranking Scythian Age burials in the Altai suggests that lacquer items were imported by the nomads from a single manufacturing center in China during 600–400 BC. Because imported lacquerware was quite expensive, persons buried at Chilikta II mounds 21 and 31 must have belonged to the elite, although these burials were inferior to “royal” mounds at Tuekta, Pazyryk, Bashadar, Berel, Katanda, etc., in terms of status.