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Lead Isotope Analyses Revealed the Key Role of Chang'an in the Mirror Production and Distribution Network During the Han Dynasty
Author(s) -
Zhangsun Y. Z.,
Liu R. L.,
Jin Z. Y.,
Pollard A. M.,
Lu X.,
Bray P. J.,
Fan A. C.,
Huang F.
Publication year - 2017
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.12274
Subject(s) - frontier , lead (geology) , production (economics) , economic geography , distribution (mathematics) , capital (architecture) , politics , geography , history , economy , ancient history , political science , geology , archaeology , economics , paleontology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , law , macroeconomics
Chang'an (now Xi'an) was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty and the starting point of the Silk Road. In the light of the importance of Chang'an as the centre of politics, economy and cultural interaction, the overarching question proposed in this paper is focused on its role in the mirror production and distribution network during Han period. On the basis of chemical and lead isotopic analyses of 34 Han mirrors, this paper discusses the potential existence of a mirror production centre in Chang'an. Meanwhile, a comparative study with mirrors uncovered from the south‐western frontier and from Central Asian and North‐East Asian countries offers new insight into these related issues.