The stable isotopic composition of historical black powder applicable to a J apanese T anegashima matchlock

Bibliographic Data

ID8353922
AuthorsChitoshi Mizota (0000-0001-5898-7328, Beppu University, corresponding author), Toshiro Yamanaka (0000-0002-6807-6904, Okayama University)
Year2015
Volume57
Issue6
Pages1095-1103
Publication date2015-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/arcm.12157
OpenAlexW1599958898
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited11

The objective of the present study is to employ stable isotope ratio measurements (δ 15 N, δ 34 S and δ 13 C) of the nitrogen, sulphur and carbon in black powder (a mixture of saltpetre, native sulphur and charcoal) as a means of source identification. A sum total of 20 samples of historical black powder applicable to matchlocks were collected from six locations throughout J apan. This classic type of hand gun prevailed up to the introduction of the modern rifles, with quicker loading and higher efficiency, in the mid‐to‐late 19th century. δ 13 C charcoal carbon values showed the predominant use of C 3 plants as a source material. Except for a few unusual samples with a probable exotic origin, δ 15 N saltpetre nitrogen values were largely consistent with those of domestic products using classical biotechnology. The isotopic analysis for native sulphur (δ 34 S native sulphur ) indicates a complicated marketing route

Art · Carbon black · Carbon fibers · Charcoal · Composite material · Composition (language) · Isotope analysis · Nitrogen · Physics · Stable isotope ratio · Sulfur · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Chemistry · Geology · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Materials Science · Organic Chemistry · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

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