Work

After Highly Radiogenic Lead: The Flow of Late Yinxu Lead During the Dynastic Transition of Shang–Zhou China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The incorporation of lead into copper‐based alloys constitutes a significant technological innovation in early dynastic China. The circulation of distinct lead types provides crucial insights into the nature of inter‐regional communication networks during this period. Through lead isotopic analysis, we propose a major type of lead utilized during the Shang–Zhou transition periods, which has been recovered both from Yinxu in ingot form and from a distant site of Zhengxiaozhuang as pure lead objects. Mapping its geographic distribution reveals that potential connections between the Central Plains and the Yangtze River region were more pronounced along the western flank of the Dabie Mountains compared with the eastern routes.

Source: Archaeometry

DOI: 10.1111/arcm.70207