Crucible lead smelting, a traditional technology unique to China, refers to the production of lead by reducing lead sulfide with iron metal in crucibles. In recent years, a number of crucible lead production sites of ...Crucible lead smelting, a traditional technology unique to China, refers to the production of lead by reducing lead sulfide with iron metal in crucibles. In recent years, a number of crucible lead production sites of the Liao-Jin-Yuan periods(tenth–fourteenth centuries CE) have been found in northern China, providing opportunities for the study of the technology. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of this technology based on the historical and archaeological evidence, with particular emphasis on the crucibles used. Firstly, it reviews the historical records on crucible lead smelting, and introduces, in detail, the technology used in Gansu during the Qing period(1644–1911) as well as indigenous methods used in the twentieth century;secondly, it summarizes the discoveries of crucible lead smelting sites in recent years, and reconstructs the manufacturing of crucibles and the iron reduction method by analysis of the crucible and slag;finally, it expounds the technical characteristics of crucible lead smelting, and explores the origin and development of the technology.展开更多
基金This paper is sponsored by“Preliminary Research on Ancient Chinese Crucible Smelting Technology”(Approval No.:51404242)“Research on Ancient Iron Reducing Silver and Lead Smelting Technology”(Approval No.:51704023)of the Youth Science Foundation of the National Natural Science Foundation of Chinathe Major Breakthrough project“Research on Ancient Chinese Crucible Smelting Technology”(Approval No.:Y621011003)of the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘Crucible lead smelting, a traditional technology unique to China, refers to the production of lead by reducing lead sulfide with iron metal in crucibles. In recent years, a number of crucible lead production sites of the Liao-Jin-Yuan periods(tenth–fourteenth centuries CE) have been found in northern China, providing opportunities for the study of the technology. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of this technology based on the historical and archaeological evidence, with particular emphasis on the crucibles used. Firstly, it reviews the historical records on crucible lead smelting, and introduces, in detail, the technology used in Gansu during the Qing period(1644–1911) as well as indigenous methods used in the twentieth century;secondly, it summarizes the discoveries of crucible lead smelting sites in recent years, and reconstructs the manufacturing of crucibles and the iron reduction method by analysis of the crucible and slag;finally, it expounds the technical characteristics of crucible lead smelting, and explores the origin and development of the technology.
