Scientific Study Of Early Iron Age Bronze From The Yili Region,xinjiang,china

Located in the northwest border of China,the Yili area is a fertile soil on the Eurasian grassland and a bridge connecting Chinese and Western cultures.The Yili River Valley is located in a fortress with a long history and rich cultural heritage.The culture of the Yili River Valley was a transnational early Iron Age culture.A large number of bronzes unearthed in recent years have provided an important basis for studying the cultural exchanges between the Yili area and the periphery.In this paper,the copper objects unearthed in the Yili area were taken as the research object,and the metallurgical microscopic observation,alloy composition detection analysis,trace elements and lead isotope ratio analysis were used to discuss related issues such as the metallurgical technical characteristics of the early Iron Age copperware metallurgy and the source of mineral materials in the Yili area.Then,it will be compared with the analysis and detection results of copper wares unearthed in other areas of Xinjiang to further explore the exchanges and metal circulation between various regions and cultures in Xinjiang.Studies have shown that both copper castings and forgings unearthed in the Yili area are equally important.The alloy components are mainly tin bronze and red copper,and their choices have a clear trend.People consciously choose red copper to cast copper and copper-tin alloys to make weapons.Arsenic bronze and lead tin bronze have also been found but in small quantities.On the whole,the bronze rules discovered by Yili are basically consistent with the overall trend in Xinjiang.Trace element analysis shows that the copper supply system in Yili area is relatively simple and stable.In contrast,the Hami area may use the same minerals as the copperware in the Yili area.Judging from the distribution of trace elements,this mineral should be from west to east,first mined and smelted by the Yili area,and then flow to the Hami area.Lead isotope ratio analysis shows that the lead in the copper wares in Yili area is ordinary lead,and the copper materials come from different copper mines but belong to the same vein,and are most likely supplied locally.At the same time,under the circumstance of self-sufficiency,the local residents use the Yili Center to deliver minerals to neighboring regions at the same time.The main propagation direction is to extend to the east,and the scope of influence has reached the East Tianshan.One of the metallurgical centers.