The Archaeometry and Archaeology of Ancient Chinese Glass: a Review

This paper provides a new review of archaeometric research carried out on glass found in China, set in an archaeological context, from its earliest occurrence to the Song dynasty. It is set within a broad geographical context taking the terrestrial and maritime Silk Road contacts into account. We discuss chemical and isotopic compositional contrasts in glasses from different periods found in different parts of China, the glasses that were almost certainly made in China and those that were imported. A theme that runs through the paper is the problem of provenancing glass found in China, along with a lack of evidence for primary glass‐making sites and minimal evidence for secondary glass production. We discuss the glass artefacts that are of typical Chinese types and contrast these with imports; the structure reflects this contrast. We discuss potential new scientific and archaeological approaches to Chinese glass.     

A Persistent Place for Hunter-Gatherers During the Late Holocene: The Case of Burials in Pit on the Coast of Lángara Bay,Argentine Patagonia

In Argentine Patagonia, the type of archaeological burial “in pit” has been only identified on the coast of Lángara Bay. This modality is characterized by the presence of single and multiple primary burials. Studies on five human burials in pits are presented in this article. The aim is to compare the contexts of burials in pit at the site level and the spatial characteristics of their distribution in the Lángara Bay locality from a diachronic perspective. The approach focuses on mortuary practices and social relations of hunter-gatherer groups during the Late Holocene. A characterization of the burials, their chronologies, bioarchaeological determinations, stable isotope studies, and their spatial distribution are included. The results allow us to chronologically place the contexts between ca. 3000 and 2000 cal BP. A spatial pattern in the distribution of burials in the coastal landscape was identified. Finally, it is proposed that this part of the Patagonian coast was a persistent place of burials in pit.     

A technological study of ancient faience from Egypt

The chemical compositions and microstructures of some 35 faience objects from Egypt spanning the period from the Middle Kingdom through to the 22nd dynasty are determined using analytical scanning electron microscopy. Replicate faience beads glazed in the laboratory using the efflorescence and cementation methods are similarly investigated. In efflorescence glazing, there appears to be preferential efflorescence of soda over potash, and in cementation glazing, preferential take up of potash over soda into the glaze. These data are then used to try to infer the raw materials and methods of glazing employed in the production of the ancient faience. The glaze/glass phases present in the faience differ significantly in composition from that of New Kingdom glass. This could be due either to the use of different plant ashes or to changes in the composition of the plant ashes during the production of faience and/or glass. Although it is only rarely possible to determine with certainty whether ancient faience was glazed by efflorescence, cementation or application, the observed microstructures provide an indication of the approach adopted to achieve desired performance characteristics such as strength.     

Electron Microprobe Analysis of 9th–12th Century Islamic Glass from Córdoba,Spain

Twenty‐six samples from domestic assemblages of 9th–12th century Córdoba were subjected to electron microprobe analysis. The results reveal two main compositional types. The first, encountered in 13 of the samples, seems to result from the combination of plant ashes with high‐impurity sand, and has some contemporary parallels from Syria and Egypt. The second type is a lead–soda–silica glass, encountered in a relatively high proportion of the glasses (11 of the 26 sampled), possibly formed by the addition of lead metal to existing glasses and with very few known parallels. These are among a very small number of results available to date on the chemical composition of glasses from medieval Spain, and the presence of a high proportion of lead–soda–silica glasses is particularly interesting, possibly indicating a technological practice unique to, or originating in, the western Muslim world.     

“长江口二号”沉船出水青花瓷中的污染物研究

位于长江入海口的“长江口二号”清代沉船是中国目前发现的保存最为完整的古代木制沉船之一，已于2022年11月完成整体打捞。在进行水下考古调查时，沉船出水的部分青花瓷出现的病害现象引起了考古工作者的关注，特别是裂纹中黑色污染物及表面铁锈状污染物对文物的外观产生了很大影响。本工作选取了三件具有典型被污染特征的青花瓷标本作为代表，使用能量色散X射线荧光分析(EDXRF)、光学显微镜(OM)、X射线衍射分析(XRD)、拉曼光谱分析(Raman)和扫描电子显微镜-能谱分析(SEM-EDS)等方法，对污染物进行了研究，探讨了其形成原因以及环境的影响作用，并对其潜在危害进行了分析。研究表明，污染物主要以方解石、菱铁矿等碳酸盐以及铁的氧化物、氢氧化物和硫化物为主。长期处于河口淤泥中的还原性环境是导致菱铁矿和亚稳的铁硫化物形成的原因，船体中铁质构件腐蚀对局部环境的污染是重要的影响因素，这也反映出被污染的青花瓷所处位置和环境的特殊性。出水的部分青花瓷釉中裂纹的形态表明其形成是由物理撞击造成，而釉中硅灰石晶体的选择性腐蚀会导致腐蚀坑的形成，裂纹和腐蚀坑均为外部污染物进入釉层内部提供了通道，导致瓷器劣化。出水后...     

论黄河流域先秦时期腰坑墓葬俗文化——兼说与长江流域同类墓葬俗的关系

腰坑墓流行于黄河流域中原地区的墓葬中,学者们多把对其研究的焦点集中在对这一葬俗文化起源问题的讨论上,并较一致地认为该葬俗最早起源于河南地区。本文对发现的有关材料进行梳理,围绕中原地区先秦时期腰坑墓的起源、用途、性质、发展演变等进行了分析,以澄清过去研究中存在的一些模糊认识。认为,腰坑墓的葬俗最早可以追溯到新石器时代,而其起源亦非河南地区。     

寿县李三孤堆楚器的研究与探索

本文介绍了李三孤堆楚墓所出青铜器的流散和收藏慵况,回顾了自20世纪30年代初至今学者们对这批楚器的研究历程及成果,并从铭文释读、器物形制、器群主人及其埋葬环境几方面分别阐述了各家之说,最后通过回顾和分析总结出目前这一研究中存在的问题,提出了深入进行这一研究的重要意义,并指出了今后的研究方向。     

几种防腐剂在古坑木中的吸收量固化率及抗流失性研究

不同类型的防腐剂由于化学性质不同,造成在古坑木中的吸收量、固化率及抗流失性有较大差别。为了筛选出适合于古铜矿遗址内古坑木的防腐剂,对木宝等几种防腐剂在古坑木中的吸收量、固化率、抗流失性进行了试验。     

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of wood ash: an experimental study with archaeological implications

Wood ash, composed mainly of the mineral calcite, is an important component in many archaeological sites. Identification of wood ash in the archaeological record is often difficult due to mixing of ash with other calcitic components of geogenic origin and/or due to diagenetic changes. A recent empirical study using the stable isotope compositions of carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) in wood ash enabled the identification of mixtures of wood ash with geogenic calcite and to follow diagenetic changes due to partial dissolution and re-precipitation of ash in two prehistoric cave sites in Israel. Little however is known about the processes responsible for the isotopic compositions of wood ash in relation to formation at various temperatures and the influence on isotopic composition of ash from a variety of plant species. Here we present an experimental study of wood ash formed by burning three C3 tree species and one C4 desert bush at different temperatures. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the isotopic compositions of carbon and oxygen between wood ash that forms by combustion at a relatively low temperature (500 °C) and at a higher temperature (900 °C). In addition, we show that the isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen in high temperature wood ash approaches equilibrium over a period of several months and that the carbon isotopic composition of low temperature wood ash may reflect the photosynthetic pathway of the burnt woody species. Lastly, we show that the isotopic compositions obtained from wood ash prepared at different temperatures do not reflect a temperature dependent fractionation process, but a mixing line between calcite that formed by low temperature combustion and calcite formed by high temperature combustion which later underwent re-carbonation with atmospheric CO₂. In addition, we suggest that exchange processes may possibly occur during combustion between decomposing calcium-oxalate and atmospheric O₂, CO₂ and CO. The archaeological implications of this study are discussed in relation to identification of wood ash in the archaeological record, identification of fuel sources and burning temperatures, and diagenetic changes expected in karstic cave environments. The method presented here can be applied at any archaeological site.     

元“月明沧海”琴的修复

"月明沧海"琴为上海博物馆藏品,元至正壬辰(公元1352年)制造。琴额部有两处木质缺洞,木质纤维素腐烂,蛀眼19个,额部其它部位漆颜色暗淡,琴左侧面下方、琴额背面均有缺损。对这件古琴制定修复方案,并开展清洁、处理蛀洞、分析灰胎、加固、补配、批灰、涂漆、打磨、做旧等保护修复工艺流程。结果表明,传统修复工艺与现代科学技术检测的结合,使此件文物的修复工作相当成功。