Brass products in the coronet excavated from a M2-numbered Sui-Tang-dynasty tomb situated in Kun Lun Company in Xi'an, Shaanxi

Abstract

In this study, the brass wires in the coronet excavated from M2 tomb in Xi'an, Shaanxi, dating back to Sui-Tang-dynasty were probed via portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) techniques. The wires were found to be composed of 83 wt% of copper, 12 wt% of zinc, and 3 wt% of tin. According to the metallographic analysis, the wires were formed by integral hot forging, and were then installed on the coronet after surface cold shaping, via cutting and hammering during the production of the support parts. It indicated that the composition of brass was evenly distributed without obvious composition segregation, revealing the features of the second stage of brass smelting in ancient China, which may prove brass had appeared and brass smelting technology had been mastered in the Sui-Tang-dynasty in the Central Plains of China. In addition, the use of brass in the coronet was in accorded with the hierarchical symbol given to the material by the feudal society. And the selection of brass was based on the dual combination of the excellent mechanical properties and the golden surface of brass. Thus, brass in the Sui-Tang-dynasty historical period was the tangible evidence of the development level of metallurgical technology, and also reflected the artistic and social attributes given to materials by different stages of social development.