The Compositional study of ceramic samples from tombs dating to the Zhou Dynasty at Xiaoshan,Zhejiang Province (China)

Xiaoshan in Zhejiang Province was an important ceramic production area in ancient China. During recent years, local archaeologists have found a number of mound tombs dating to the Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn period. Many shards of stamped stoneware and proto‐porcelain have been unearthed from these tombs. In this paper, we report how we collected ceramic shards from tombs and samples from local ancient kilns as reference materials in order to clarify their relationship. We have used the energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence technique to analyse the chemical composition of the ceramic samples. The results indicate that some of the tomb artefacts may be imported from other production areas. We infer that the other tomb samples were produced at local kilns, but due to production process–related compositional differences, there are small differences in chemical composition between different categories of samples.     

洛阳孟津朱仓东汉帝陵陵园遗址

洛阳孟津朱仓东汉帝陵陵园位于邙山东汉陵区帝陵区和陪葬墓群的交会地带。此次发掘的M722、M707均为"甲"字形明券大墓,墓冢封土规模庞大,周围有大范围的建筑遗存,出土器物有陶器、铁器、铜器、瓷器、玉器、石器、银器等,可分为建筑材料、生活用具、装饰品、生产工具、兵器等,器物组合、形制均与东汉墓葬、城址出土的器物有所不同。通过考古学对比并结合文献记载,推测M722、M707为东汉帝陵。     

Nabataean or not? The ancient necropolis of Dumat. First stage: a reassessment of al‐Dayel's excavations

Two reports on excavations carried out in 1985–1986 by archaeologist Khaled Abdulaziz al‐Dayel and published in the journal Atlal (1988, 1986) have revealed the existence of ‘Hellenistic tombs’ in the Dūmat al‐Jandal oasis (ancient Adummatu/Dumat/Dumata) in northern Saudi Arabia. Although attributed more precisely to the Nabataeans by Khalil al‐Muaikel (1994), these tombs nevertheless appear not to have interested specialists of this historical period in the least. Moreover, a re‐examination of the architectural data and of the grave‐goods indicates the difficulty of establishing a link between the unearthed remains and a purely ‘Nabataean’ cultural sphere (i.e. of the Petra type). This study therefore attempts to reassess published archaeological data, formulate questions on the Nabataean presence in the oasis, and also to demonstrate the relations connecting Dumat to the great Levantine and Mesopotamian cultural spheres between the first century BC and the second century AD.     

山东沂源出土战国皮革文物的材质鉴别

山东沂源发掘的一座战国晚期墓葬,保存完好,随葬品丰厚。其中有皮革制品,这在北方考古发掘中十分罕见。对出土皮革文物的研究,为研究北方地区战国时期的皮革制品提供了重要的实物依据。因此,本研究利用衰减全反射—傅里叶变换红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对战国皮革文物材质进行了分析鉴别,初步判定沂源出土战国皮囊为羊皮革制品。研究结果对皮革文物材质的科学鉴别提供了借鉴,为科学、有效保护奠定了基础。     

考古发掘现场智能预探测系统的统计与应用

鉴于考古工作中发掘现场情况的不确定性,为改进我国古墓葬遗址等发掘现场的传统探测方法,探讨利用自动化技术,设计开发一套考古发掘现场智能预探测系统,在无考古人员进入墓葬发掘现场的情况下实现预探测功能。该系统主要面向古墓葬遗址的发掘考古需求,由远程监控端、机器人及传输线缆组成。采取分体模块化设计小尺寸机器人,使其可简便拆装成直筒式或车体式两种外形,以适用小直径手工探洞或大直径盗洞两种不同形式的发掘入口。机器人本体集成视频采集及气体传感等环境检测功能模块．实时采集数据并通过传输线缆发送至远程监控端。远程监控端提供窗口化的监控界面软件,该软件在Micro Visual Studio 2005开发平台下完成,在显示并记录采集所得图像和数据的同时,可对机器人的部分模块进行控制。该考古发掘现场智能预探测系统设计制造后在陕西省三个古墓葬遗址进行了实地测试。研究结果显示,数据采集准确及时、视频图像清晰可靠、整体系统运行稳定、可操作性强,基本满足了考古发掘现场的实际需要,推进了考古发掘工作的科技化进程。     

三峡地区秦汉时期家族墓初探

一、秦汉时期家族墓的一般情况关于家族墓的含义,可以徐苹芳先生的看法为代表:秦汉以来,随着封建制的巩固和发展,族葬墓地逐渐消失和改变,代之而起的是家族葬。在一个大墓地中,出现了若干不同姓氏的、以家族为单位的茔域。家族墓在古代文献中往往称塚(冢)次、先     

甘肃泾川出土5件佛教造像彩绘分析及相关研究

运用显微观察、荧光拍照、偏光显微镜、X射线荧光光谱、X射线衍射及扫描电镜能谱分析手段,对#87北魏造像碑、#99隋代佛头、#54宋代残破佛头和2件泥塑佛像残块表面彩绘进行研究。结果显示,北魏和隋代造像红色为朱砂,绿色为石绿,白色为方解石;隋代造像面部肉色为硫酸铅和朱砂的混合物,眼黑为炭黑;宋代造像表面红色为铁红,白色为方解石;泥塑残块#1表面蓝色为石青和石绿的混合物,#2表面为朱砂,判断其制作年代不晚于唐代中期。白灰层主要成分为碳酸钙,并具有亮白色荧光反应,与碳酸钙粉末混合有机胶制成白灰层的荧光反应一致,判断古代样品白灰层中可能存在有机胶结质。在元素分析过程中,铅(Pb)一直存在,而在物相分析中并没有发现Pb的化合物。同样问题在早期关中出土墓葬壁画分析中同样存在,是否与彩绘工艺本身有关,值得引起关注。     

洛阳关林镇唐墓发掘报告

2002年11月至2004年1月,洛阳市文物工作队为配合城市基本建设,先后在洛龙区关林镇中国储运公司802仓库住宅楼考古工地、洛阳市世祺房地产公司世祺嘉苑一期商品楼考古工地、河南省地矿局地质调查一队办公楼考古工地、世祺嘉苑二期商品楼等四处考古工地发掘出唐代墓葬共计61座。墓葬分布比较密集,其中中储802仓库工地发掘墓葬5座,世祺     

GEOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE VOLCANIC TUFFS USED IN THE ETRUSCAN TOMBS OF NORCHIA (NORTHERN LATIUM,ITALY) AND A STUDY OF THE FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR RAPID SURFACE AND STRUCTURAL DECAY

The geochemical and engineering geological properties of the tuffs used in the rock‐cut cliff tombs of the Etruscan necropolis of Norchia were investigated to evaluate their susceptibility to different weathering agents and confirm their origin. For the first time, materials were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA, DGA and DTG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (ED–XRF), and their different origins confirmed. Tests of material properties indicate that both tuffs are poorly durable, but one of them is less susceptible to weathering. Although tombs made with the more resistant material show limited surface weathering, they undergo severe structural damage because of stress release and plant root infiltration. This, combined with the microclimatic conditions established inside river canyons, can trigger rock falls, leading ultimately to the complete destruction of these tombs.     

淮安楚州翔宇花园明清墓葬群发掘简报

淮安楚州翔宇花园明清墓葬群是一处大型的古代墓地,墓葬时代早晚不一,墓地中出现了排列有序、长幼关系清楚的明代家族墓。此批墓葬随葬器物丰富精美,时代特征明显,文化因素较为复杂,这对研究明清时期丧葬礼俗及淮安地方历史文化特别是明清时期历史具有重要的价值。     

湖北襄阳岗心与八亩坡墓地发掘简报

Three ancient graveyards at Gangxin, Bamupo and Paomagang graveyard in Xiangyang city were excavated from May to July in 2000. The excavation was done to cooperate with the construction of Xiang-Jing Highway. Fifteen tombs dated from Song to Ming and Qing Dynasty were unearthed, including small-scale brick-chambered tombs with earth pits, pit tombs and relocated tombs. Asmall quantity of burial objects such as copper cash, copper and jade hairpins are unearthed too. These tombs bear some unique features in forms and burial customs. The excavation will be helpful to the research on historical archaeology of Hubei province.     

The Characterization of Vegetable Tannins and Colouring Agents in Ancient Egyptian Leather from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

This work characterizes both tanning and colouring materials found in ancient Egyptian leather objects from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The analytical investigations focused on assessing the development of the technology of ancient tanners using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), X‐ray radiography and a scanning electron microscope connected to an energy‐dispersive X‐ray detector (SEM–EDX). Reference leather samples and archaeological leather objects were investigated to identify the animal skin species and the early use of hydrolyzable vegetable tannins for leather tanning. Different methods were used to colour th leather, including madder dying and staining with hematite, or painting with Egyptian blue and Egyptian green.     

新疆沙湾宁家河水库墓地发掘简报

宁家河水库墓地位于新疆塔城地区沙湾县克孜勒乔克村。2011年6~8月,新疆文物考古研究所对墓地进行了抢救性发掘,共清理墓葬115座,出土有陶、金、银、铜、铁、石、骨器等。墓葬类型丰富,可分为竖穴石室墓、竖穴偏室墓、竖穴土坑墓、无墓室墓,各自具有鲜明的文化特征。这些墓葬的年代属于青铜时代中晚期、早期铁器时代、汉代、唐至元四个时期。本次发掘为研究天山北麓考古学文化序列及文化交流提供了新资料。     

Identification of ancient textiles from Yingpan,Xinjiang, by multiple analytical techniques

Various extraordinary textiles were excavated from a graveyard at Yingpan, Xinjiang, on the middle route of the ancient Silk Road. Applications of western motifs and designs to traditional Chinese textiles led to the emergence of compound woven textiles with central Asian characters. For a better understanding of the cultural exchanges and textile trade between the West and the East in ancient times, identifications of archaeological fibres and dyes were carried out for various funerary textile objects by using multiple analytical techniques, such as high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode detection, optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Fibre identifications were performed for 35 archaeological textile samples, and the results showed that the ancient textiles were mostly made from Bombyx mori silk and wool. The SEM and FT-IR experimental results revealed that these ancient textiles remained morphologically intact due to the special (very dry) climate in Xinjiang, but noticeably degraded at the molecular level due to long time thermo-ageing and/or biodegradation. The principal colouring matters, such as alizarin, purpurin, indigotin and luteolin, were respectively characterised for nine archaeological textile samples. The yellow dyestuffs derived from luteolin-based plants were assumed to have been imported to China from the Middle East and Western Asia through the Silk Road.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLASTERS FROM PTOLEMAIC BATHS: NEW EXCAVATIONS NEAR THE KARNAK TEMPLE COMPLEX,UPPER EGYPT*

The aim of the present work is to characterize plasters from Ptolemaic baths recently discovered in front of the Karnak temple complex, by the excavations of an Egyptian–French team. The characterization was carried out by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy‐dispersive X‐ray detector (EDS), X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR). The results allowed the identification of the chemical composition and structure of these plasters. In addition, samples of red, yellow, black and white pigments were examined and identified. The results helped in providing an image concerning some materials used during the Ptolemaic era in ancient Egypt.     

Discovery of ancient mineral medicine in the Lv family tomb of the Northern Song dynasty (1074–1111 ce)

Ranked as one of the top 10 national archaeological discoveries in China in 2010, the Lv family tomb complex is the most intact and well‐preserved set of family tombs of the Northern Song dynasty excavated to date. Among the numerous exquisite artefacts recovered from the tomb was a sealed porcelain box containing residue. In this research, a multi‐analytical approach combining field‐emission scanning electron microscope energy‐dispersive spectrometry (SEM‐EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform‐infrared spectrometry (FTIR) with attenuated total reflection (ATR), and thermogravimetry (TGA) was employed to characterize the residue. Calomel (Hg₂Cl₂) and calcined stalactite/stalagmite were identified, and they presumably served as a traditional Chinese medicine for curing ‘Jiaoqi’ disease which is often referenced in contemporary historical texts. This paper provides the first direct evidence for minerals being used for medical purposes in ancient China, and also proves its medical effect for relieving the symptoms of Lv Qianrong's Jiaoqi disease. These findings further provide new clues for studying Chinese medical history.     

新疆乌鲁木齐萨恩萨依墓地发掘简报

萨恩萨依墓地位于新疆乌鲁木齐市南郊板房沟乡东自杨沟村萨恩萨依沟口的二级台地上,2006～2008年新疆文物考古研究所与乌兽木齐市文物管理所联合对其进行了发掘。此次发掘共清理墓葬180座,出上陶器、铜器、骨器、石器、铁器等300余件(组)。墓葬的类型多样,文化面貌复杂,墓地年代自青铜时代至汉唐时期。此墓地的发掘为探讨中国西北地区青铜文化与欧亚草原地区文化的关系提供了珍贵的实物资料,有助干了解中国西北地区青铜文化发展的过程。     

COOKING AND PAINTED WARE FROM SAN GIUSTO (LUCERA,FOGGIA): THE PRODUCTION CYCLE,FROM THE SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIALS TO THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF PRODUCTS*

Archaeological excavation at the San Giusto site (Lucera, Italy) has unearthed a Late Antique kiln that was most certainly dedicated to the production of cooking ware. An archaeometric study of numerous specimens of cooking and painted ware found at this site was carried out using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, micro‐Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma mass and optical emission spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis. The integration of historical–archaeological data with archaeometric data has revealed that these specimens can be attributed to the San Giusto site. Furthermore, the production cycle of this ware can thus be reconstructed: from the diversified supply of raw materials (fluvial and marine sediments), to the relatively complex preparation of the paste, to firing at variable temperatures (600–750°C for cooking ware; 850–1050°C for painted ware).     

关于牛河梁第二地点一号冢墓葬出土玉器的解读——东北古夷玉巫教探析

牛河梁第二地点一号冢分为东西两区,共26墓,其出土玉器分别代表牛河梁猪灵、鸮灵、云灵崇拜的原生玉巫教与黄帝"云纪"、少皞"鸟纪"等众多玉巫教的各支派系的联合体,并未形成统一的、集权的顶级发展阶段的巫教。同时,牛河梁又是东北古夷玉巫教的圣地。     

山东青岛土山屯汉墓M162出土漆奁的髹漆工艺及相关问题研究

山东青岛土山屯汉墓出土了大量汉代漆器,大部分漆器髹涂1～2层较薄的漆,但M162出土的漆奁残片却与众不同。本研究采用数码显微镜、X射线光电子能谱、傅里叶变换红外光谱、扫描电镜能谱、X射线衍射等方法对M162出土漆奁残片的红漆层和漆灰层进行了分析研究,发现此件漆奁残片的漆灰层表面连续髹涂5层红漆,且每一层厚度均超出同时期其他墓葬出土漆器的漆层厚度,实属罕见。检视以往研究成果,这是目前发现红漆层数最多的汉代漆器标本,其制作工艺较单层髹漆更为复杂。而这种多层髹同种色漆工艺发展的原因,应当出于审美的需要,其进一步发展,或许可视为雕漆工艺的滥觞。