Abstract
Thirteen Zhou Dynasty bronze vessels and two slags from Zongyang County along the north bank of the Yangtze River in Anhui were analyzed by LA-MC-ICP-MS and EDXRF. The results of lead isotope analysis showed that there were two kinds of lead materials in the Zongyang bronzes. Vessels in Class I, thought to have originated from the Wannan region were primarily used during the Western Zhou and the following Spring and Autumn period; while those in Class II, possibly from the local mines in Zongyang County, were mainly present during the Warring States period. Such a shift in the ore material sources is also revealed by the trace element analysis of the Zongyang bronzes. With reference to the relevant historical documents, we suggest that the transformation of the bronze material sources might have been associated with the changes of the political situation during the Zhou Dynasty.
Highlights
The making of bronze vessels, as one of the hallmarks of the Bronze Age in China, has long been a key issue in archaeological studies, which can provide significant insight into the cultural traditions and economic activities of ancient society
The lead isotope ratios point to the source of lead material if the lead content in lead bronze and lead–tin bronze is higher than 2% [14], whereas the lead isotopes of pure copper and tin ware should be indicative of the source of copper ore and tin ore, respectively [15]
Lead isotope analysis Lead isotope ratios analysis of the slags from Tangjiadun The results of the lead isotope ratios analysis of the slags from the Tangjiadun site in Zongyang along with those from other sites in Nanling, Tongling are shown in Table 2
Summary
The making of bronze vessels, as one of the hallmarks of the Bronze Age in China, has long been a key issue in archaeological studies, which can provide significant insight into the cultural traditions and economic activities of ancient society. Large numbers of archaeological sites featuring bronze vessels dating back to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, especially the bronze mining and smelting sites, have been found across Anhui, Anhui Province’s Zongyang County is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River and in the western part of the Jianghuai region that is the areas between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. The study of the smelting remains from the Tangjiadun site showed that the smelting process of “copper sulphide ore-copper” existed as early as the late Shang Dynasty in Zongyang [1]. Analysis on manufacturing technology and mineral sources indicated that the Zongyang bronze vessels predating the Qin Dynasty were generally
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