148 A Preliminary Analysis of Bronzes and Ironware Unearthed from Ancient Tombs at Yongzhi Li XiaocenYun Yali He Guihua 11Cu-SnCu-As-Pb AsCu-As-Pb2 Abstract: Deqin county, located in the Hengduan Mountains in northwestern Yunnan province, is an important gateway of the spreading of north China bronze culture to Yunnan. To understand the Bronze Age metallurgical technology in northwestern Yunnan, bronzes and ironware dating to the late Warring States period to the early Western Han dynasty unearthed from tombs at Yongzhi village in Deqin are studied by way of metallographic observation and chemical composition analysis. It is found that the eleven bronze objects analyzed consist of copper, Cu-Sn alloy, Cu-As- Pb alloy and other alloys containing Cu and As, indicating the diversity of alloys, with copper being the major component. It is the second time that Cu-As-Pb alloy has been discovered in Yunnan and the related metallurgical technology is worth noting. Block-fining iron carbide, a kind of low carbon steel, is identified in the ironware. This is the first time that ironware from northwestern Yunnan is scientifically analyzed. Hot forging and cold working after hot forging were the principal methods of bronze processing. Sometimes cold working after casting was in use as well. Distinct features are noticed on the bronze swords, horse-shaped decoration and arc-shaped knife, suggesting that the techniques are possibly related with the north grassland culture. Key Words: Deqin; Yongzhi; Cu-Sn alloy; Cu-As metal; Cu-As-Pb alloy; block-fining iron carbide
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154 Archaeology, World