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The Provenance of Historical Gunpowder from South‐Western J apan: A Stable Isotopic Approach
Author(s) -
Mizota C.,
Yamanaka T.,
Ichinose A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12141
Subject(s) - gunpowder , rifle , provenance , muzzle , diamondoid , cartridge , chemistry , archaeology , geology , history , geochemistry , barrel (horology) , organic chemistry , molecule
Stable isotopic analysis was undertaken for the gunpowder ingredients from crude saltpetre and propellants from several types of gun that prevailed during the late 19th century in south‐western J apan. Stable isotopic signatures for δ 15 N saltpetre nitrogen , δ 34 S native sulphur and δ 13 C charcoal carbon in crude saltpetre, gunpowder magazines bearing the trademark of mills from southern S cotland and cartridges for an improved S harps rifle (with a US trademark) all imply common assemblages from the same source (saltpetre and native sulphur from B ritish I ndia and S icily, respectively) in the U nited K ingdom ( UK ). One P ritchett patron is common for muzzle‐loading E nfield rifles, while the other suggests a four‐allied lead bullet for an unidentified hand gun. Propellants in the P ritchett patron from the same institution also suggest a common source of these rifles. On the contrary, the ingredients for an unidentified rifle and time fuse for a P aixhans gun with unique stylistic devices showed distinctive isotopic signatures, indicating a local J apanese origin. The P ritchett patron from the K umamoto M useum involved a mixed provenance from the UK and J apan. The stable isotopic analysis provides direct evidence for the ultimate origin of the propellant.