Preliminary Discussion on the Highly Radiogenic Lead in Unalloyed Copper Artifacts of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty: Starting from the Huili Copper Spearheads

Xiaoting Wang,Xiang Tang,Dian Chen,Yingdong Yang,Wugan Luo,Jing Du

doi:10.3390/met10091252

Abstract

The debate about the highly radiogenic lead in Chinese archaeology has never ceased. However, previous studies have mainly focused on high leaded bronzes and lead materials, and with little specific discussion on the unalloyed copper artifacts and the sources of copper materials in China. In this work, a trace of highly radiogenic lead was found in ten copper spearheads unearthed from Huili County, Sichuan Province, southwest China, which inspired our research on this issue. The pXRF results showed that their lead content is extremely low, so the lead isotope ratios can indicate the source of copper, and the data correspond to the local copper deposits. Combined with other relevant highly radiogenic lead isotope data of unalloyed copper artifacts, the results indicate that there were multiple sources of copper ores used in the Shang Dynasty, and copper mines were continuously used in Southwest China until the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

Highlights

The long period of the Bronze Age in China (c.2000–500 BCE) saw the growth and maturity of a civilization
In order to eliminate the influence of additional tin and lead on the lead isotopic studies for copper, this paper focuses on unalloyed copper artifacts with very low lead and tin content
This study suggests that the ancestors in Southwest China may have continued to use some copper ores with highly radiogenic lead during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, while most of the highly radiogenic copper sources of the Shang Dynasty were not further utilized

Summary

Introduction

The long period of the Bronze Age in China (c.2000–500 BCE) saw the growth and maturity of a civilization. The long period of the Bronze Age in China BCE) saw the growth and maturity of a civilization. Metal sources, supply management, and trade systems are always the core content. When involving China, highly radiogenic lead that mainly appeared in the Shang Dynasty BCE) is a very special and important discovery. Since its recognition, it has attracted a great deal of attention, and many studies have been conducted around it over the past four decades [1]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion