Microstructural and elemental analyses of slags excavated from the Gushishan iron‐smelting site, Sichuan Province, China

Bibliographic Data

ID7147477
AuthorsYingfu Li (0000-0002-7533-6743, School of Archaeology and Museology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan Province China, corresponding author), Hang Xiao (0000-0003-3123-5665, School of Archaeology and Museology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan Province China), Chunyan Ma (0000-0002-0388-5014, School of Archaeology and Museology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan Province China), Yasuyuki Murakami (Research Center for Asian Archaeology of Industry and Culture Ehime University Ehime Japan), Tianqiang Sun (School of Archaeology and Museology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan Province China), Yuniu Li (0000-0002-5064-6606, Center for Archaeological Science, Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China)
Year2025
Volume67
Issue3
Pages589-603
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/arcm.13026
OpenAlexW4401846350
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited3

The Shu Commandery was an important iron production center in southwest China during the Han Dynasty (202 BC‐AD 220). In 2007, archaeologists excavated a Han Dynasty smelting furnace (L1) at the Gushishan site and collected large amounts of smelting remains including slags, furnace bricks, and ores. Scientific analysis of the excavated slags was carried out to ascertain that the Gushishan site was a pig iron smelting site. No flux was used at the Gushishan site, and the site is dated no later than the Eastern Han period. No remains related to iron casting of the Han Dynasty was found at or near the iron smelting sites in southwest China, which indicates a separation between iron smelting and iron casting as characteristics of the industrial layout in this region

Archaeology · China · Geography · Iron Age · Metallurgy · Pig iron · Smelting · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Geology · Materials Science · Metallurgy and Cultural Artifacts

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