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The original article translated from Italian puts it this way: >the results indicate that the colossal statue is most likely an elaborate reassembly of what wa
by Isamu 2y ago
The original article translated from Italian puts it this way:
>the results indicate that the colossal statue is most likely an elaborate reassembly of what was initially a zhènmùshòu (镇墓兽 "keeper of tombs") fused in the Tang period (609-907 AD) with copper from the mines of the lower basin of the Yang-tze River, the Blue River in southern China. This is confirmed by accurate analyses of lead isotopes, which leave in the bronze unmistakable traces of the original mines from which the copper was extracted.
The implication is that the mines themselves have different isotope signatures that have been established in previous archaeological studies.
- potato3732842 2y agoI'm surprised they're using isotopes and not impurities for such a task.
- cameron_b 2y agoPerhaps based on time-mapping known regional mining activity
- Isamu 2y agoI believe these are impurities. This is talking about copper mines, producing the copper for the bronze casting. So they are looking for the signature lead impurities in that copper. They use isotope analysis to find the lead impurities in the copper.
- samus 2y agoIsotope ratios are very easy and reliable signals compared to impurities. Impurities can be all over the place depending on where the materials were mined. Impurities could have also been added inadvertently during the casting as well.