Scientific Analysis of Materials and Technology of Jades Unearthed from Cemeteries Dated to Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Xiyasi, Xinzheng
LIU Jun1, 2, FAN Wen-quan3, HU Yong-qing3, LIU Song1, 2, LI Qing-hui1, 2*
1.Center of Sci-Tech Archaeology, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
2.Center of Materials Science and Optoelectromics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3. Institute of Cultural Relics in Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450000, China
Abstract：The Chinese Jade culture has a long history. The processing techniques of jade have been continuously developed and improved during various periods, and to some extent, it can reflect the condition of productive forces, cultural, trade, technical communications and other information of ancient societies. In this paper, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), Optical microscopy (OM), combined with silicone resin molding method are used to analyze some jade artifacts unearthed from cemeteries dated to Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Xiyasi, Xinzheng, Henan province. Mineral property is determined by XRF and LRS, then OM technology is used to characterize the micro-marks on surfaces, in holes of the jade artifacts, and also on the surfaces of silicone molds. Based on the features of micro-marks, the processing techniques have been identified, especially for the processing techniques of incising decorations and perforations. The relationships between mineral properties and processing techniques are discussed finally. The results of XRF and LRS show that the main mineral phases of jade artifacts include tremolite, talc, mica and crystal. According to the features of micro-marks obtained, there are two kinds of tools used to incise the decorations. One is the rotary wheels, and the other is hand-held hard tools. The micro-mark characteristics of drilling process show that solid drills and tubular drills are used to drill holes from single-side or double-sides/multi-sides. Although solid drilling technology is adopted in some jades, there are some differences in drills’ shape and abrasive sand used or not. Jades of different material properties adopt different processing techniques. Talc jade, whose mohs hardness is 1, is mainly plaques and uses pointed hand-held tools to incise surface decoration and solid tool-heads which are probably cone-shaped to drill holes without adding abrasive sand. Mica jade, whose mohs hardness is 2~3, is mainly slotted rings called Jue and uses rotary wheels to incise the surface decorations. It adopts single-side drilling method and its tools for drilling are tubular drills. Tremolite jade, which has a mohs hardness of 5~6, is also mainly plaque shaped, surface decorations are incised by rotary wheels, and the holes are mainly carried out by solid tools to drill from both sides with abrasive sand. The shape of the drills is cone-shaped, very similar to that of talc jade. For crystal beads, its mohs hardness is 7, the drilling technology mainly adopts solid tools to drill from both or multiple sides and the drills might be cylindrical. This indicates that connections between the processing technology of jade and the material properties and shape of jade do exist.
Key words：Chinese jades in the Eastern Zhou period; Material property; Micro-mark characteristics analysis; Silicone resin molding
刘 珺，樊温泉，胡永庆，刘 松，李青会. 新郑西亚斯东周玉器材料属性与加工工艺的科技分析[J]. 光谱学与光谱分析, 2019, 39(11): 3637-3645.
LIU Jun, FAN Wen-quan, HU Yong-qing, LIU Song, LI Qing-hui. Scientific Analysis of Materials and Technology of Jades Unearthed from Cemeteries Dated to Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Xiyasi, Xinzheng. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2019, 39(11): 3637-3645.
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