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Previous studies of ancient jade using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) have mostly focused on mineral identification, alteration status and provenance determination. It is usually used as an auxiliary instrument for spectroscopic detection with finer resolution. However, there is no substitute for the efficiency and stability of pXRF in-situ non-destructive analysis, which is less affected by the test environment. The scale of the data from the pXRF analysis did not allow for a more in-depth interpretation of ancient jade in the past. In this study, pXRF has been carried out for a total of 112 pieces of nephrite artifacts unearthed from the Yuehe tomb No.1 in Nanyang City, Henan Province, Central China. Certain patterns become clearer as the size of the data increases. The coefficient of variation, cluster analysis and correlation analysis can be used to separate elements into different assemblages, revealing whether the elements are from the primary and impurity minerals of nephrite itself, from the burial microenvironment in the soil, or even from other specific sources. In addition, most of the secondary whitening occurring in the batch of nephrite are accompanied by an increase in Ca content, confirming the previously refuted theory of calcification. More importantly, the principal component analysis of the twin nephrite artifacts suggests visually indistinguishable elemental changes caused by secondary changes, which may lead to misjudgment of ancient nephrite provenance using elemental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and utilization of gold beads in China were influenced by foreign civilizations and cultures, while the exploration of composite beads in China has been relatively limited compared to single-material beads. Metal foil glass beads represent a distinct type of composite beadwork popular in ancient times. This paper presents findings from a study conducted on a group of beads that were unearthed in Nanyang City, Henan Province. Theoretical calculations and CT imaging suggested that a particular class of gold beads, previously misidentified as single-material beads, actually consisted of gold foil wrapped around an inner layer of glass beads. Elemental analysis techniques such as pXRF, SEM and μ-EDXRF were used to reveal that the purity of the gold foil of the two differently shaped beads is around 95% and 98.5%, while the silver foil of the silver beads is also around 85% due to corrosion. Microscopic observation confirmed that the gold leaf was applied through foil-fusion gilding. Lead isotope analysis indicated that the gold beads originated from different sources, whereas the silver beads likely originated from the Central Plains region. Furthermore, the evidence of beadwork from Southeast Asia and South China supports the view that the gold beads may have been originally exotic but gradually adaptated through indigenous learning, allowing the creation of high-quality imitations. This study emphasizes the importance of scientific analyses for the proper determination of bead types and craftsmanship, and contributes to a better understanding of the ancient bead circulation network. • A special type of beadwork that wraps glass in a gold leaf is recognized. • The purity of the gold foil of two differently shaped beads is around 95% and 98.5%. • These gold beads may have originated in Southeast Asia and then spread to China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some words on bronze inscriptions that may refer to the names of metal raw materials are always under discussion. One of the most frequent term is 'xuan-liu' (), which found in the inscriptions of many objects such as weapons, musical instruments and vessels of Zhou dynasty. Previous scholars have interpreted its meaning through philology and paleography, but opinions differ widely. Scientific data by modern techniques could provide some innovative and profound evidence. Hence, a series of scientific tests including metallographic observation, FTIR, EDXRF, ICP-AES, on a precious xuan-liu dagger-axe from the Xujialing site, Henan Province, were carried out in this work, while compared with other three bronze vessels with typical Chu style in the same site, whose compositions and lead isotopes can be used as context for better understanding the technological level and raw material origin of the xuan-liu dagger-axe. By comparison to the composition data of some other dagger-axes, as well as the lead isotope data of the same period bronze wares from the adjacent area and geological background, some conclusions were gotten. First, the xuan-liu dagger-axe was perfectly made and the inlaid gold thread has a high quality and purity. Second, the ratio of copper to tin is about three to one, close to the recommended alloy ratios in ancient books. Third, it is probably a local product from the State of Chu rather than Wu. Based on this information, we have excluded some of the previous points of view and incline to the opinion that 'xuan-liu' may indicate a particular kind of tin ore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

XRF and XRD analysis were conducted on clay cores inside seven bronze artifacts belonged to E State from the Xiaxiangpu site (c. 885–650 BCE). The aims of the study are to discuss whether it is the metal raw materials or the finished bronze artifacts were imported, and whether the E State still had political and technical conditions to make sacrificial vessels after its rebellion. The contrastive analysis of major compositions and trace elements with other reference objects indicates that the raw materials of clay cores were came from local sources. Contrary to the outside lead ore, it is highly likely that E State imported the metal raw materials and cast bronze artifacts in local workshops independently. The autonomy of such act confirms that E State still kept the aristocracy and economic and political strength after the military unrest in the late Zhou Dynasty. Unlabelled Image • XRF and XRD analyses were conducted on residual inner molds of bronzes from the Xiaxiangpu site. • The ceramic molds might be made under the same manufacturing process with local raw materials. • It is more likely that E State imported the lead ores but not the finished bronze artifacts. • E State might have political and technical conditions to cast bronzes independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]