Lead isotopes and elemental composition of bronzes excavated from Xiajiang area of Chongqing, China using MC-ICP-MS and SEM-EDS

Archaeometallurgy of Han Dynasty bronzes is a hot topic of current research and has made great achievements. However, the archaeometallurgical features of the Han bronzes in the Xiajiang area are yet to be understood. In the present study, bronzes recovered from Fengxiangbei tomb, Xiajiang area were analysed using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) to study the techniques and provenance of raw materials. Metallographic analysis showed that all the bronzes were cast, and only one sample showed signs of post-casting heating, probably due to heating during daily use. Comparison with the available data from different sites and mines reveals that the lead ore used for bronzes in the mid-to-late Western Han Dynasty came from multiple lead sources, and that there may have been an extensive network of metal resources circulating. The Xiajiang area has been included in this network.