A New Evaluation of the Beiyao Bronze Foundry Under the Western Zhou Dynasty

Abstract

This paper discusses the Western Zhou bronze foundry at Beiyao in Luoyang. By re-examining available archaeological evidence through technological and socio-economic lenses, this paper sheds new light on the technologies and organization of bronze production and identifies several issues in previous research that require further investigation. It argues that the currently excavated area and recovered materials from the Beiyao site are insufficient to support large-scale bronze production attributed to the early Western Zhou period. A more holistic approach combining history of technology, archaeological data, and social context is advocated for achieving a better understanding of Western Zhou bronze economy.