Lead isotopic analyses of copper ores in the Early Bronze Age central Hexi Corridor, north‐west China

G Chen,Y Li,Y Yang,Y Cui,H Wang,R Liu,A M Pollard

doi:10.1111/arcm.12566

Abstract

This paper explores the possible provenance of ores employed for metallurgical production during the Early Bronze Age in the central Hexi Corridor of north‐west China. In total, 78 pieces of copper (Cu) ore samples were collected from five Early Bronze Age sites and one Cu deposit site (the Beishantang Cu deposit) in the Heihe River region of the central corridor. These sites were dated to the late Machang (4100–4000 bp), Xichengyi (4000–3700 bp), Qijia (4000–3600 bp) and Siba (3700–3400 bp) cultures. After comparing with published lead (Pb) isotopic data from other possible Cu deposits in north‐west China, the results show that the Cu ores collected from the Early Bronze Age sites were most likely derived from the adjacent Beishan Cu deposit. More intriguingly, for the first time in Hexi Corridor, a dozen Cu ores were discovered containing highly radiogenic Pb. Though fundamentally different from those in the Central Plains, they illustrate a possible new type of Cu used in Bronze Age western China, and the first‐hand materials are significant for further understanding the provenance of raw metals for metallurgical production in the prehistoric Hexi Corridor.

Highlights

After comparing with published lead (Pb) isotopic data from other possible Cu deposits in north-west China, the results show that the Cu ores collected from the Early Bronze Age sites were most likely derived from the adjacent Beishan Cu deposit
The paper presents 78 fresh Pb isotopic data for Cu ore samples collected from five key Bronze Age sites and one Cu deposit in the Heihe (Black) River area within the central Hexi Corridor
The Hexi Corridor is critical to advance our understanding of the interaction between central China and the steppe during the transition between the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age

Summary

Introduction

The corridor performed a vital intersection linking central China (or the Central Plains) to Xinjiang and further west over several millennia, and scholars often assume it to be one of the most critical routes through which a variety of major prehistoric materials passed through, for example, millet (Wang et al 2017; Dong et al 2017a), painted pottery from east to west, or wheat (e.g., Flad et al 2010; Liu et al 2017) and metallurgy (Mei 2003; Zhang et al 2017) from west to east It is within this region that archaeologists discovered the oldest bronze object so far in China Whilst pinpointing its exact geological source is not yet possible, this discovery will undoubtedly form a preliminary advance in the debate about the sources of highly radiogenic Pb in north-west China

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Conclusion