The mausoleum complex of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC), is one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in China, yet questions remain as to how it was constructed and by whom. Here we present isotopic results of individuals from the Liyi (n = 146) and Shanren sites (n = 14), both associated with the mausoleum complex. Those buried at Liyi represent the local workers/inhabitants of the Qin population, and the δ13C (−8.7 ± 1.5%) and δ15N (10.3 ± 0.7%) values indicate that they consumed predominately millet and/or domestic animals fed millet. In contrast, the Shanren individuals were prisoners forced to construct the mausoleum (found buried haphazardly in a mass grave and some in iron leg shackles), and their δ13C (−15.4 ± 2.9%) and δ15N (8.0 ± 0.6%) results indicate a more mixed C3/C4 diet, with possibly less domestic animals and more wild game protein consumed. This pattern of decreased millet consumption is also characteristic of archaeological sites from southern China, and possible evidence the Shanren prisoners originated from this region (possibly the ancient Chu state located in modern day Hubei Province and parts of Hunan and Anhui Provinces). Further, this finding is in agreement with historical sources and is supported by previous ancient DNA evidence that the mausoleum workers had diverse origins, with many genetically related to southern Chinese groups.
ABSTRACT. While radiocarbon is widely applied in dating ancient samples, recent studies reveal that 14 C concentrations in modern samples can also yield precise ages due to the atmospheric testing of thermonuclear devices between 1950 and 1963. 14 C concentrations in both enamel and organic matter of 13 teeth from 2 areas in China were examined to evaluate and improve this method of forensic investigation. Choosing enamel near the cervix of the tooth can reduce the error caused by the difference between the sample formation time and whole enamel formation time because tooth enamel formations take a long time to complete. A proper regional data set will be helpful to get an accurate result when calculating the age of the sample (T 1 ) by the CALIBomb program. By subtracting the enamel formation time (t), the birth date of an individual (T 2 ) can be confirmed by enamel F 14 C from 2 teeth formed at different ages. Calculated enamel formation dates by 14 C concentration are basically consistent with corresponding actual values, with a mean error of 1.9 yr for all results and 0.2 yr for the samples formed after AD 1960. This method is more effective for dating samples completed after AD 1960. We also found that 14 C concentrations in organic matter of tooth roots are much lower than atmospheric concentrations in root formation years, suggesting that the organic material keeps turning over even after tooth formation is complete. This might be a potential tool for identification of death age to extract a proper component for 14 C dating. We also observed that 13 C values between hydroxyapatite and organic matter indicate that isotopic fractionation during the biomineralization is 8-9‰ more positive in mineral fractions than in organic matter.
Iron production in the Central Plains area of China has been largely based on cast iron smelting since ca. fifth century BC, with different techniques developed in the following Warring States period and Han dynasty to convert this material into malleable soft iron. Whilst there is a broad consensus about the evolution of technological traditions in the Early Iron Age, the methodologies employed for differentiating artefacts derived from different iron smelting and decarburisation methods have been variable and not sufficiently conclusive. Taking advantage of renewed analytical approaches and archaeological evidence recovered in recent years, this paper summarises our current understanding of the decarburisation techniques employed in Early Iron Age China and sheds new light on this subject through the analysis of archaeological artefacts from two civilian cemeteries in the eastern part of the Guanzhong Plain (Shaanxi), dated to the third century BC. The analytical results indicate that both solid-state and liquid-state decarburisation were employed for soft iron production in this area during the Late Warring States period. The methodology employed in this paper, based on slag inclusion analysis, also provides a more systematic approach to differentiating soft iron production techniques in future archaeometallurgical research in China.
From 2007 to 2008, many bronze wares of Qin Dynasty were excavated from tombs at Xinfeng town. Being an important finding, these bronze wares attracted people’s attention, especially for their conservation. Therefore, the corrosive products were explored by using Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-ray Detector (SEM/EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy (RM), which provided much valuable information on the conservation of these bronze wares. According to tested results, the corrosive products of bronzes were found to be comprised of cuprite (Cu2O), covellite (CuS), lead carbonate (PbCO3), and malachite (CuCO3·Cu(OH)2). Meantime, the multilayer corrosive structure was found in some samples due to the cracks in Cu2O layer which had formed many microchannels to promote the material migration.
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