Primary study of metallurgical remains from Sihaipaozi site, Nenjiang River basin: new evidence of arsenical copper smelting in Bronze Age China

Abstract

Limited information is available regarding the early metallurgical practices in the Nenjiang River basin, despite the numerous copper objects that have been excavated in the region. To fill the existing gap in the study, a collection of metallurgical remains, such as slags, technical ceramics, and ores, was obtained from the Sihaipaozi site located in the lower reaches of the Nenjiang River in northeastern China. The metallurgical activity at the site dates back to the late Shang period (ca. 13th ~ eleventh century BC). Scientific research of metallurgical remains reveals that the production of arsenical copper at the site was achieved by the direct smelting of polymetallic ores containing both arsenic and copper. The paper also addresses the potential ore source of the site.