Of gold masks, bronze mirrors and brass bracelets: Analyses of metallic artefacts from Samdzong, Upper Mustang, Nepal 450–650 CE

Abstract

The site of Samdzong is composed of a series of shaft tombs situated at 4000 m altitude in the Himalayas. Recent archaeological expeditions have recovered an exceptional metal assemblage including gold and silver masks, copper vessels, iron daggers, brass bangles and a bronze medallion. The richness and variety of the collection provided an unusual starting point to investigate trade and regional exchange patterns in the period 450–650 CE, in combination with data from other materials. Here we present a stylistic, metallographic, elemental and isotopic study of a selection of the metal objects. The results suggest a South Asian origin for the bulk of the metals, while evidencing a variety of technological and cultural traditions that show connections with Central Asia and the Silk Road. This is one of the first comprehensive analyses of archaeological metal objects from the High Himalayas, offering a baseline for future comparative studies.