Technological and Material Insights into Bronze Casting Remains at the Datongpu Site from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty

Abstract Several bronzes, casting moulds, crucible walls, copper slag, and other confirmed relics of copper casting from the late Spring and Autumn period and early Warring States period (circa 475 BCE) were unearthed at the Datongpu Site in Jianhu County, Jiangsu Province, between 2019 and 2021. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and multicollector–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed to examine the metal resources and mould-making technology of the bronze casting industry of the Yue culture during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The metal particles in the slag suggest that the melted alloy product is high-tin bronze, and the ceramic mould contained a significant amount of plant debris. This indicates that the casting technology involving high-tin bronze alloy production and the use of plant ash in moulds is characteristic of the lower Yangtze River region, highlighting the northward spread of Yue culture. Accordingly, the lead materials at Datongpu were predominantly sourced from the Central Plains, confirming the records of the relationship between Jin and Yue in the early Warring States period. The findings highlight the technological advancements of the Yue culture and support historical accounts of interactions between the Jin and Yue states. This study is significant as it provides new insights into the technological and material aspects of the bronze casting industry during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, which is crucial for understanding regional metallurgical practices and cultural interactions.