Two Sides of the Same Coin: A Combination of Archaeometallurgy and Environmental Archaeology to Re-Examine the Hypothesis of Yunnan as the Source of Highly Radiogenic Lead in Early Dynastic China

Bronze Age Shang China is characterized by its large-scale production system and distinctive ritual world. Both are vividly materialized a large number of bronze vessels with added lead. Whilst remarkable amount research effort has been channeled into the trace elemental lead isotopic analysis these vessels, successfully revealed some important fingerprints such as highly radiogenic (HRL), there yet no consensus on metal source(s) which supplied entire during period. In addition to traditional method look for matching mismatching between ores objects, we propose that environmental archaeological studies can provide crucial clues address long-standing questions in archaeometallurgy. first part paper, attempt illustrate potential complexity combining two subjects together. The second paper offers case study reviewing debate Yunnan source HRL. Synthesis various lines evidence published most recent archaeology, archaeometallurgy, field reports radiocarbon dating suggests this hypothesis appears much less likely than previously suspected.