On the provenance study method of the archaeological relics based on styles and distributions
-
Yunxiang Bai
Abstract
The provenance study of the artificial products among the archaeological artifacts is an important content of the archaeological research. The relevant methods applied in the academic field at present all have their effectiveness as well as limitations. Focusing on the practices and experiences in the study on the bronze mirror casting industry in the Linzi City Site of the Qi State in Shandong, this paper puts forward the provenance estimation method based on the styles and distributions of the artificial products, which suggests that different production places (origins) produced different local styles, while the products made in each origin were circulated in the zone with the origin as the center. Therefore, according to the spatial distribution of the artificial products, the location with the most densely distributed products with this style could be inferred as their origin. Then, this paper discussed the identification and summarization of the “origin style”, the observation and analyses of the regional distribution and the estimation and confirmation of the origins, the scope of application of this method and other relevant issues in the application of this provenance estimation method.
Postscript
The original paper published in Kaogu 考古 (Archaeology) 2016.9:77–90 with six illustrations was written by Yunxiang Bai 白云翔. This English translation is done by Catrin Kost 金秋月.
References
Bai, Yunxiang 白云翔. 2007. 临淄齐国故城汉代镜范及相关问题研究 (Mirror molds from the ancient city of Linzi and related questions). In Bai, Yunxiang 白云翔 and Shimizu, Yasuji 清水康二 [eds]. Shandong sheng Linzi Qiguo gucheng Han dai jingfan de kaoguxue yanjiu 山东省临淄齐国故城汉代镜范的考古学研究 (Archaeological study of the Han period mirror-molds from the site of the Qi State capital Linzi in Shangdong Province, China). Beijing: Kexue chubanshe. p. 125.Suche in Google Scholar
Bai, Yunxiang 白云翔. 2007. 汉代临淄铜镜制造业的考古学研究 (Archaeological research on the industry of bronze mirrors in Linzi during the Han period). In Archaeology Publications 考古杂志社 [eds]. Tan gu qiu yuan 探古求原 (Researching into antiquity and seeking after the original). Beijing: Kexue chubanshe. p. 235.Suche in Google Scholar
Bai, Yunxiang 白云翔. 2014. 汉代“蜀郡西工造”的考古学论述 (Archaeological discussion on “made by Xigong Department of Shu Prefecture” of Han Dynasty). Sichuan wenwu 四川文物 (Sichuan cultural relics) 6:39–51.Suche in Google Scholar
Bai, Yunxiang 白云翔. 2015. 从韩国上林里铜剑和日本平原村铜镜论中国古代青铜工匠的两次东渡 (The two eastward migrations of the bronze craftsmen in ancient China seen from the bronze swords unearthed at Sangnimri in Korea and the bronze mirrors unearthed at Hirabaru Site in Japan). Wenwu 文物 (Cultural relics) 8:67–79.Suche in Google Scholar
Jiang, Tingyu 蒋廷瑜. 2002. 汉代錾刻花纹铜器研究 (On Han bronzes with carved design). Kaogu xuebao 考古学报 Acta Archaeologia Sinica 3:277–302.Suche in Google Scholar
© 2018 by Walter de Gruyter, Inc. · Boston · Berlin
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Banlashan Cemetery of Hongshan Culture in Chaoyang City, Liaoning
- Surveys and excavations in 2014–2016 at Shijiahe Site in Tianmen City, Hubei
- The Imperial City Terrace Locality of the Shimao City Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province
- The Jartai Pass Site in Nilka County, Xinjiang
- Reports
- The excavation of the Modaoshan Site of the Paleolithic Age in Yunan County, Guangdong
- The excavation of the Daxi Cultural remains at Dashuitian Site in Wushan County, Chongqing
- The excavation of the Wujiachang Cemetery in Fuquanshan Site, Shanghai in 2010
- The Shang burials at the Yangjiawan Locality of the Panlongcheng Site in Wuhan
- The excavation of burial M89 at Tiesan Road at the Yinxu Site in Anyang, Henan
- The excavation of the burial M8 at the Zhoujiazhai Cemetery in Suizhou, Hubei
- The recovering of the Qianfosi cliff sculptures in Tongnan County, Chongqing
- Research
- On the subsistence types of the Xiantouling Culture
- On the origin and formation of the early Qin Culture
- On the provenance study method of the archaeological relics based on styles and distributions
- Maitreya statues in the Southern Dynasties and the incarnation of Fu Dashi as Maitreya
- A preliminary research on the burials of the Mongol Khanate period and Yuan Dynasty in northern area
- The emergence and early utilization of domestic sheep in Xinjiang
- The development and formation of soldering technique on the bronze ritual vessel casting of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
- Brief report on the laboratory archaeology of the tomb M1 at Dahekou
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Banlashan Cemetery of Hongshan Culture in Chaoyang City, Liaoning
- Surveys and excavations in 2014–2016 at Shijiahe Site in Tianmen City, Hubei
- The Imperial City Terrace Locality of the Shimao City Site in Shenmu County, Shaanxi Province
- The Jartai Pass Site in Nilka County, Xinjiang
- Reports
- The excavation of the Modaoshan Site of the Paleolithic Age in Yunan County, Guangdong
- The excavation of the Daxi Cultural remains at Dashuitian Site in Wushan County, Chongqing
- The excavation of the Wujiachang Cemetery in Fuquanshan Site, Shanghai in 2010
- The Shang burials at the Yangjiawan Locality of the Panlongcheng Site in Wuhan
- The excavation of burial M89 at Tiesan Road at the Yinxu Site in Anyang, Henan
- The excavation of the burial M8 at the Zhoujiazhai Cemetery in Suizhou, Hubei
- The recovering of the Qianfosi cliff sculptures in Tongnan County, Chongqing
- Research
- On the subsistence types of the Xiantouling Culture
- On the origin and formation of the early Qin Culture
- On the provenance study method of the archaeological relics based on styles and distributions
- Maitreya statues in the Southern Dynasties and the incarnation of Fu Dashi as Maitreya
- A preliminary research on the burials of the Mongol Khanate period and Yuan Dynasty in northern area
- The emergence and early utilization of domestic sheep in Xinjiang
- The development and formation of soldering technique on the bronze ritual vessel casting of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
- Brief report on the laboratory archaeology of the tomb M1 at Dahekou
