Research on the Rammed Earth Construction Materials of Shang Dynasty Capital Sites in Zhengzhou
GU Tian-yang1, 2, SHI Dong-hui3, YANG Shu-gang3, SONG Guo-ding4*, ZHANG Yu-xiu5*
1. Department of Archaeology and Museology, Faculty of History, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
2. Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, School of Humanities, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3. Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, Zhengzhou 450000, China
4. College of Elite Engineers for Cultural Heritage, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100191, China
5. National Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
Abstract：Rammed earth constructions are recognized as important archaeological discoveries of the Shang Dynasty in Zhengzhou, providing physical evidence for understanding the architectural materials and techniques of the period and containing a wealth of information related to social organization, production activities, and cultural phenomena. This study focused on the rammed earth at the Zhengzhou Shang City and Xiaoshuangqiao site, through the determination of hardness, porosity, moisture content limits, as well as X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and scanning electron microscopy observations, a deeper understanding of the elemental composition, physical properties, and mechanical performance of rammed earth materials has been achieved. At the same time, an analysis of the compositional characteristics of the rammed earth materials, the changes in internal structure and properties before and after rammed construction, and the characteristics of human activities reflected within has been conducted. Based on the archaeological background information of the samples, it is believed that the rammed earth quality of the constructions at the Shang Dynasty capital cities in Zhengzhou is relatively high. During this stage, the rammed earth construction technique is considered to be in a period of stable development, with most of the raw materials being sourced from the common clay found near the sites. Significant differences in the composition and properties of the rammed earth samples from certain specific building types or parts have been observed, indicating that the choice and handling of rammed earth raw materials may be related to the functional requirements of different construction types and parts, based on the ancestors' preliminary understanding of the regional environment and soil characteristics. Reflections and prospects for analyzing rammed earth technology are also proposed based on summarized experiences, which provide valuable references for future research.
Key words：Shang Dynasty capital city; Rammed earth construction; Rammed earth construction technique; Physical properties; Chemical composition
谷天旸，师东辉，杨树刚，宋国定，张玉修. 郑州地区商代都邑夯土建筑材料研究[J]. 光谱学与光谱分析, 2025, 45(07): 2078-2086.
GU Tian-yang, SHI Dong-hui, YANG Shu-gang, SONG Guo-ding, ZHANG Yu-xiu. Research on the Rammed Earth Construction Materials of Shang Dynasty Capital Sites in Zhengzhou. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(07): 2078-2086.
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