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With the emergence and progress of composite tools in the Middle Stone Age, the adhesive became one of the most widely used materials by early human societies. However, the precise composition identification of adhesive in archaeological remains is a real analytical challenge, because the adhesive mainly consists of organic materials that are susceptible to decay during burial process. Of particular interest is to know which animal/plant species were being exploited for glue manufacturing other than for food. The arid climate of the Xiaohe Cemetery, located in Taklamakan Desert, northwestern China, provides favorable conditions for the preservation of organic residues. A bone sculpture-inlaid wooden artifact was collected from the Xiaohe Cemetery, with some semi-transparent yellowish adhesive exposed due to the detachment of an inlaid bone sculpture. In this paper, micro samples of the adhesive were scraped for FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, primary examination) and subsequent proteomic analysis to determine the proteinous component(s) and precise origin(s). The identified tryptic peptides match most closely to known bovine collagen markers, suggesting that this adhesive was an animal glue made from cattle. These results reveal the diverse utilizations of cattle in the Xiaohe Cemetery, which provided not only meat, milk, hides, sinews and dung, but also leftover parts for manufacturing adhesive. This is the earliest evidence of adhesive identified in China up to our knowledge, which sheds light on adhesive development around 3500 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hutian Kiln, located in Jingdezhen City of Jiangxi Province of China, is well-known for the productions of bluish white glazed porcelain (Qingbai) from Song Dynasties (AD 960 – AD 1279) and egg-white glazed porcelain (Luanbai) of Yuan Dynasty (AD 1271 – AD 1368). Luanbai with an opaque glaze is thought to have evolved from Qingbai, which has a transparent glaze; however, the precise technological details for this process have not been adequately studied. This paper presents the analyses of samples of Luanbai and Qingbai porcelains from Hutian Kiln using various microscopic studies, including visible light spectrometry and Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Some distinct technical changes have been identified that help to explain the evolution from transparent Qingbai to opaque Luanbai glaze. First, there is an increase in the proportion of potassium-rich ingredients in sherds dating to Late Song Dynasty, which suggests a change in the glaze recipe. Second, during Yuan Dynasty, both types of porcelain share the same chemical composition, but Luanbai products display distinct micro-structures and opacity in contrast to the Qingbai ware. Third, the overall firing temperature of Luanbai is around 1270 °C which is generally around 100 °C higher than that of Qingbai. The opacity of Luanbai ware may be the result of different firing techniques, including the higher firing temperature and a correspondingly longer time to heat and to cool the glazed porcelain. The results reveal new insights on the coloring mechanism of the two kinds of glaze and the transition from Qingbai of Song Dynasty to Luanbai of Yuan Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cheese making has been inferred at several sites in northern Europe as early as the 6th millennium BC and was common in Egypt and Mesopotamia in 3rd millennium BC. However, the remains of ancient cheeses have never been found and recipes of ancient dairy, its production scale, social and economic impact remain poorly understood. Here we present direct proteomics evidence for the production of an earliest known cheese that was found as an organic mass associated with the mummies of Early Bronze Age cemetery of Xiaohe (1980–1450 BC) in Xinjiang, China. Kefir fermentation of ruminant milk by a symbiotic culture of Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and other lactic acid bacteria and yeasts was the basis of robust, scalable, probiotic, lactose-free dairy and a key technological advance that introduced economic benefits of extensive herding into a semi-pastoral household of the Eastern Eurasia population already in the Early Bronze Age. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ancient foodstuffs, including noodles, cakes, and common millet, were excavated from the Subeixi Cemeteries (cal. 500–300 years BC), Turpan District in Xinjiang, China. Starch grain and phytolith analyses were undertaken to identify the plant species involved. These indicate that the noodles and cakes were made from Panicum miliaceum. Ancient food preparation technologies were also investigated by cooking experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ru ware and Jun ware belong to the five most famous porcelains of the Song dynasty (AD 960–AD 1276), China. Their relationship is one of the focuses of research in ancient ceramic circle. In this article, some shards of Ru ware, its modern copies and Jun ware were analyzed by using SEM, UV–VIS spectrometer. Under SEM, Ru ware has different micromorphological structure to Jun ware, and Ru modern copies are more similar to Jun ware. These differences could explain the reflectance spectrum difference between Ru modern copies, Jun ware and Ru ware. So the UV–VIS method has the potential to answer Ru–Jun confusion problem and be a reference in nondestructive authentication of Ru ware. Special optical phenomena may illuminate that the glaze color of Ru ware is the combined result of physical and chemical effects. However, more determinate conclusions need more samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In their paper "The beginning of faience in China: A review and new evidence", Lin et al. (2019) conclude that the Kayue people in Qinghai began making faience with a high potash content during the second half of the second millennium BC, prior to the Zhou people (1046-771BC). Based on a thorough assessment of the archaeological evidence, especially concerning the dates of the Kayue tombs, I conclude there is a lack of solid evidence that these faience beads predate the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771BC) so it cannot be inferred that the Zhou people learned production technologies for high potash faience from the Kayue people. A possible faience road for the transfer of production technologies from Xinjiang to Central China is further proposed. In this transfer process, some typology and production technologies for faience beads were adopted by the Western Zhou people, but the glaze recipe of most faience changed greatly in Central China due to adaptation to local resources. • The spread of faience is the earliest case of globalization in ceramic history. • A faience road is proposed between East Xinjiang and Central China during the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age. • Copper has been used as a glaze colorant in China since the introduction of faience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glazed steatite beads represent one of the earliest vitreous materials, and their appearance and diffusion signal prehistoric important developments of technology exchange and globalization. However, little is known about their early spread in East Asia. In this study, we present a comprehensive characterization of glazed/fired steatite beads unearthed from the Xiaohe Cemetery (1980-1450 BCE) in northwest China using multi-analysis techniques. In particular, the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for rapid and in situ characterization of fired steatite beads is demonstrated. The remaining glaze is successfully identified by SEM-EDS and optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicate that these beads were fired and exhibit some connections with the Indus Valley, thereby proposing a potential spread route of artifacts and technology from the Indus Valley to northwest China. Moreover, the introduction of fired steatite beads and faience beads into China has presented different spread patterns, which were linked to climate change. When fired steatite and faience beads were introduced into central China, they played a significant role in the ritual revolution during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BCE). • The long-distance diffusion of glazed/fired steatite in the Asian interior is outlined. • Fired steatite beads and faience beads have different two-wave spread modes in China. • Near-infrared spectroscopy offers a new in situ method to rapidly determine the firing temperature and duration of steatite. • O-PTIR can be used to identify the glaze on fired steatite beads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodcrusts are often discovered inside archaeological pottery and other containers, and they can provide abundant information about vessel function, diet, cuisine activities and human subsistence strategies. Lipid analysis has been used for decades to characterize foodcrusts, indicating their composition and biological sources. Recently, proteomics has also been applied to foodcrusts, providing more specific information about the tissues and species origins. In this study, lipid and proteomic analyses were combined to analyze foodcrusts in pottery from the Xiawan site of the Taihu Lake region, East China. These pottery sherds are mainly attributed to the Songze cultural period (ca. 5800–5300 BP). The results show that these foodcrusts contain interpretable concentrations of lipid compounds, including a series of common medium- and long-chain fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic alcohols, sterols and their derivatives, isoprenoid fatty acids and long-chain ketones, as well as proteins of terrestrial mammals and aquatic products. This study provides direct evidence for the function of pottery and the exploitation of animal and plant resources at that time, especially freshwater products, marine fish, rice and millet. Therefore, the combination of lipid and proteomic analyses has great potential in organic residue analysis for foodcrusts. • Lipid and proteomic analyses disclose a diet of rice and fish (Fandao Gengyu , 饭稻羹鱼), mainly freshwater, in Neolithic East China. • Proteomic analyses reveal the consumption of marine fish. • γ-tocopherol and aliphatic alcohols could be used as rice biomarkers. • New evidence for the millet spread into southern China during the Neolithic Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As a component of architectures, stone reliefs prevailing during the Han Dynasty (206BC–AD220) were usually found in coffin chambers and ancestral temples. Although the stone reliefs represent stone carving techniques of the Han Dynasty (202BC–AD220), little information about these techniques were known. In this study, the digital microscope with 3D surface reconstruction based on extended depth of focus (EDF) technology was used to investigate tool marks of stone reliefs excavated at the Mausoleum of Cao Cao (AD155–AD220) at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25–AD220). The tool marks analysis shows that different carving techniques were involved. The surface was ground by a rotary grinding tool. Small flat-head tool could be used to lower the background. Curved lines were engraved by an oblique attack technique and the burin was held at the angle of about 35° to the contact surface. Thin straight lines were engraved by an upright attack technique. Concentric circles were possibly engraved by the dragging action of a tool like a h-shaped compass. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the EDF technology provide a new effective approach for tool marks analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]