Structural and Technological Analysis of Polychrome Layers in Excavated Artifacts From the Mausoleum of the From Qin Shihuang's Emperor Using Spectral Technologies
WEI Xin-yi1, 2, WANG Dong1, 2*, LI Xiao-xi3, FU Fei3, LAN De-sheng3, XIA Yin3, ZHOU Ping3
1. Northwestern Polytechnical University Institute of Culture and Heritage, Xi'an 710072, China
2. Key Laboratory of Archaeological Exploration and Cultural Heritage Conservation Technology (Northwestern Polytechnical University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an 710072, China
3. Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, Xi'an 710600, China
Abstract:The Emperor Qin Shihuang's Tomb has yielded exceptional archaeological finds, notably the Terracotta Army-celebrated among the “Eight Wonders of the World”. These artifacts offer crucial insights into the craftsmanship of Qin Dynasty lacquerware. This paper focuses on polychrome layer samples from two distinct contexts: (1) Terracotta Army in Pit 1, and (2) chariot wheel fragments recovered from the western burial chamber. Analytical techniques, including FTIR, Raman, XRD, and SEM-EDS, were employed to characterize structures and composites of the polychrome layers. The results indicated that all samples had a multilayered structure consisting of a lacquer ash layer and a pigment layer, with a clear boundary between them. Cinnabar, lead white, and carbon black in the pigment layer were identified, and the lacquer ash layer was composed of raw lacquer and inorganic filler. Notably, there are significant differences in the lacquer ash layers between the Qin Terracotta and chariot wheels. The lacquer ash layer of the former exhibited a fine-grained structure dominated by CaCO3, suggesting the use of CaO-based lime powder during lacquer formulation. In contrast, the lacquer ash layers of the wooden chariot wheels exhibited two structural compositions: coarse ceramic tile ash primarily containing SiO2 and Al2O3 and a fine-grained CaCO3-dominated matrix. SEM-EDS mapping revealed distinct stratification patterns in lacquer ash layers of the chariot wheels. For the No.3 sample, A mixture of ash between tile ash and lime powder during the lacquering process was used. But the No.4 sample displays a four-layer structure formed by sequentially applying layers of tile ash lacquer and lime lacquer, resulting in an alternating arrangement of coarse and fine ash layers. Finally, the statistical results of the pigments used in the polychrome layers of the robe figures and armor figures excavated from Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army indicate a preference for bright attire among commoners in the Qin Dynasty. This contrasts sharply with the Qin rulers' preference for black, which was considered prestigious in their ritual system. This study not only clarifies the structure and techniques of the lacquer and painted layers on the terracotta figures and the chariots from the large tombs to the west of the mausoleum but also provides an in-depth analysis of the coloration of the Qin figures' attire, offering crucial scientific evidence for the conservation and research of polychrome artifacts unearthed at The Emperor Qin Shihuang's Tomb.
Key words:Qin Aterracotta warriors; Western tomb of the mausoleum; Polychrome lacquerware; Lacquer ash; Pigment
魏心怡,王 东,李晓溪,付 菲,兰德省,夏 寅,周 萍. 基于光谱技术的秦始皇陵出土文物髹漆彩绘层结构与工艺研究[J]. 光谱学与光谱分析, 2025, 45(11): 3130-3138.
WEI Xin-yi, WANG Dong, LI Xiao-xi, FU Fei, LAN De-sheng, XIA Yin, ZHOU Ping. Structural and Technological Analysis of Polychrome Layers in Excavated Artifacts From the Mausoleum of the From Qin Shihuang's Emperor Using Spectral Technologies. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(11): 3130-3138.
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