Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Analytical Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-4110
ISSN (Online): 1875-6727

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Research Article

A Typology and Lead Isotope and Cultural Exchange Study on Bronze Knives from Shuangyuan Cemetery, Chengdu City, Southwest China

Author(s): Xiaoting Wang, Yingdong Yang, Tianyou Wang and Wugan Luo*

Volume 20, Issue 9, 2024

Published on: 10 May, 2024

Page: [637 - 645] Pages: 9

DOI: 10.2174/0115734110304194240503103902

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Bronze knives, which have been excavated in large quantities and acquired hierarchical significance, are essential artifacts in Shu State in Southwest China. Building upon previous typological analyses of bronze knives, it is hypothesized that Shu culture may have imported foreign-style bronze knives. However, further demonstration of the provenance of metal materials, the types of knives, and the cultural exchange necessitates a comprehensive examination through the lens of scientific analysis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in the manufacturing processes and metal resources of Shu bronze knives with various cultural styles and whether bronze knives in the foreign styles were imported or locally imitated.

Methods: In this study, the typology, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to analyze twenty-four bronze knives unearthed from Shuangyuan Cemetery, a cemetery of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, Southwest China.

Results: The results of the study show that the knives of Shuangyuan Cemetery can be classified typologically into five types, encompassing both local and foreign styles. The predominant alloy composition of these knives is lead-tin bronze, characterized by a notably high tin content. Lead isotope ratios indicate that metal materials from the South China geochemical province and the Yangtze geochemical province were mainly used to manufacture the bronze knives unearthed from the Shu state.

Conclusion: While the majority of foreign-style knives with ring-shaped heads were likely imported from neighboring regions like Chu state, distinctively styled type D and type E bronze knives appear to have been locally imitated by the Shu, showcasing a blend of external influences and indigenous innovation. The combination of typology and scientific analysis of the bronze knife may shed new light on the study of the Shu culture of the Eastern Zhou period.

« Previous Next »
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Bai, Y.X. A discussion on early metals and the origins of bronze casting in China. Chinese Archaeology, 2003, 3(1), 157-165.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/char-2013-0018]
[2]
Chen, Z.Z. Bronze Tools for Production in Pre-Qin Dynasty; Xiamen University Press, 2004.
[3]
Lv, X.M. Study on Bronze Knives of Pre-Qin Period Unearthed in Northern China; Science Press, 2010.
[4]
Huang, X.F. Study on bronze tools in the tombs of the Warring States period in Sichuan. Huaxia Archaeology, 2002, 04, 72-81.
[5]
Xiang, M.W.; Teng, M.Y. Analysis of cultural factors of bronze knife unearthed from Bashu culture tombs—and a glimpse of the development process of Bashu culture. Archaeology and Cultural Relics, 2017, 02, 84-93.
[6]
Xiang, M.W. A research on the typology, regional and periodical division of the bronze knives excavated from ba-shu culture burials: Also on the source of the bronze knives with ring pommel. Research of China’s Frontier Archaeology, 2016, 02, 239-263.
[7]
Sage, S.F. Ancient Sichuan and the unification of China; State University of New York Press, 1992.
[8]
Li, H.; Zuo, Z.; Cui, J.; Tian, J.; Yang, Y.; Yi, L.; Zhou, Z.; Fan, J. Copper alloy production in the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) of the Shu state: A metallurgical study on copper alloy objects of the Baishoulu cemetery in Chengdu, China. Herit. Sci., 2020, 8(1), 67.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00412-0]
[9]
Xiang, M.W. Archaeological Perspective on Ba’s and Shu’s Ancient Histories -Focusing on the Graves of Ba-Shu Culturefrom East Zhou to West Han Periods; Jilin University, 2017.
[10]
Wang, L.; Zhou, Z.Q. A brief report on the excavation of the West extension of Xinghelu Cemetery at Jinsha site. In: Archaeological discoveries in Chengdu 2008; Archaeology, C.I.C.a., Ed.; Science Press, 2010; pp. 75-134.
[11]
Ma, R.J.; Cui, J.F.; Min, R.; Zhang, G.J. XRF analysis of bronzes unearthed from the Xiangyun area-exploration of the bronze technique tradition of Kunming Yi. Sci. Conserv. Archaeol., 2018, 30, 75-86.
[12]
Takagi, M.; Yoshinaga, J.; Tanaka, A.; Seyama, H. Isotope ratio analysis of lead in blood and environmental samples by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Anal. Sci., 2011, 27(1), 29-35.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2116/analsci.27.29] [PMID: 21233557]
[13]
Niederschlag, E.; Pernicka, E.; Seifert, T.; Bartelheim, M. The determination of lead isotope ratios by multiple collector icp‐ms: a case study of early bronze age artefacts and their possible relation with ore deposits of the erzgebirge. Archaeometry, 2003, 45(1), 61-100.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1475-4754.00097]
[14]
Orfanou, V.; Rehren, T.A. (not so) dangerous method: PXRF vs. EPMA-WDS analyses of copper-based artefacts. Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci., 2015, 7(3), 387-397.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12520-014-0198-z]
[15]
Zhu, B.Q. Geochemical provinces and geochemically rapid change zones; China Science Publishing, 2001.
[16]
Zhu, B. The mapping of geochemical provinces in China based on Pb isotopes. J. Geochem. Explor., 1995, 55(1-3), 171-181.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(95)00011-9]
[17]
Cui, J.F.; Wu, X.H. The Study of Lead Isotopic Archaeology-Provenance Study of Bronze Artifacts Unearthed from Yunnan Province; Cultural Relics Press: China and Vietnam, 2008.
[18]
Hosler, D.; Macfarlane, A. Copper sources, metal production, and metals trade in late postclassic mesoamerica. Science, 1996, 273(5283), 1819-1824.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.273.5283.1819]
[19]
Macfarlane, A. The lead isotope method for tracing the sources of metal in archaeological artifacts: Strengths, weaknesses and applications in the Western Hemisphere. In: Metals in antiquity. Bar International Series 792; Young, S.M.M.; Pollard, A.M.; Budd, P.; Ixer, R.A., Eds.; Archaeopress: Oxford, 1999.
[20]
Cattin, F.; Guénette-Beck, B.; Curdy, P.; Meisser, N.; Ansermet, S.; Hofmann, B.; Kündig, R.; Hubert, V.; Wörle, M.; Hametner, K.; Günther, D.; Wichser, A.; Ulrich, A.; Villa, I.M.; Besse, M. Provenance of early bronze age metal artefacts in western switzerland using elemental and lead isotopic compositions and their possible relation with copper minerals of the nearby valais. J. Archaeol. Sci., 2011, 38(6), 1221-1233.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2010.12.016]
[21]
Wang, Y.C.; Zhang, J.; Lei, S.; Chen, K.L. Preliminary scientific analysis of bronze unearthed from Yushan site in Zhenhai, Ningbo. Cultural Relics in Southern China, 2019, 03, 114-121.
[22]
Ma, J.B.; Wu, X.T. Metal technology and related issues of bronze scrapers of yue people at zhou dynasty unearthed in hunan province. Nonferrous Metals, 2017, 07, 72-76.
[23]
Li, H.; Zuo, Z.; Cui, J.; Tian, J.; Yang, Y.; Yi, L.; Zhou, Z.; Fan, J. Bronze production in the ancient chengdu plains: A diachronic metallurgical perspective on a separate cultural region. J. Cult. Herit., 2020, 43, 26-36.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2019.11.005]
[24]
Qiu, T.; Liu, Z.; Li, Y.; Yan, X.; Li, Y. Scientific analysis of bronze objects of the first millennium to the second century BCE excavated from the Jiangkou Site, Pengshan, Sichuan. Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci., 2023, 15(10), 151.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12520-023-01846-w]
[25]
Lewis, M.E. The early Chinese empires; Harvard University Press, 2009.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1kmj82j]
[26]
Tong, E.Z. Study on the crescent-shaped cultural-communication belt in China’s border areas from Northeast to Southwest. In: Collection of Cultural Relics and Archaeology; Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1986; pp. 17-43.

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy