Rediscovering the largest kiln site in the middle Yangtze River Valley: insights into Qingbai and grey-greenish ware production at Husi kiln site based on bulk chemical analysis

Abstract

This paper presents new data from the Husi kiln site, Hubei Province, China, where the unusual size calls into question the primacy of Jingdezhen in porcelain production in medieval China. With its over 180 kilns, the site rivals Jingdezhen in size, yet it has found no mention in textual accounts. The wares produced at Husi include Qingbai and grey-greenish ware of the Tang and the Song periods (seventh to thirteenth century AD). This paper presents compositional data obtained using LA-ICP-MS on samples from five kilns at Husi, comparing them with published data from other kilns. The data set Husi apart, thus allowing for fingerprinting its wares. Based on bulk chemical analysis, the paper furthermore explores the idea that Husi combined elements of southern and northern technologies, thus connecting these two ceramic traditions that previously had been seen as being entirely separate. Some key elements of the early Qingbai ware glaze from Husi resemble wares from Jingdezhen, suggesting a connection between the two sites; however, the glaze recipes for later wares found at Husi differ, indicating that its customer base and marketing strategy changed over time. Furthermore, the iron content of the grey-greenish ware from Husi is extraordinarily high, indicating a unique glaze recipe and production technology independent from Jingdezhen.

Sourcing celadons with EDXRF and LA-ICP-MS from the Xunyang city burial complex, 202 B.C–907 A.D.

“…With the introduction of more elemental techniques into archaeological research, the tracing of burial ceramics and export ceramics can be based on the unique geochemical composition of pottery artefacts combined with factor analysis of various chemical composition to determine their possible provenance [4][5][6][7]. Many studies [3,[8][9][10][11] in the past have successfully aided in the tracing of ceramic products from burials or exports by employing both main elements and REE components. Xu et al [9] used REE components to trace the geochemical characteristics of Qingbai ware from the shipwreck in the Java Sea, revealing that the majority of the Qingbai ware originated from various kilns in the Fujian region.…”

Sourcing the Accompanying Celadons from the Burial Complex of Ancient Xunyang City Site using EDXRF and LA-ICP-MS

“…Zhu et al (2012) used principal and REE components to trace the ceramics excavated from the Xicun region and found that Jingdezhen products unearthed from the Xicun area in Guangdong region due to the comparison of peculiar geological characteristics. Li et al (2021) used REE components to successfully distinguish the Qingbai ware excavated from the Husi kiln from other kilns. These ndings support the use of primary chemical and geochemical composition comparisons in tracing ceramic artefacts excavated from burials and shipwrecks.…”

“…With the introduction of more chemical techniques into archaeological research, the tracing of burial ceramics and export ceramics can be based on the unique geochemical composition of pottery artefacts combined with factor analysis of principal components to determine their possible provenance [4][5][6][7]. Many studies [3,[8][9][10][11] in the past have successfully aided in the tracing of ceramic products from burials or exports by employing both main elements and REE components. Xu et al (2019) used REE components to trace the geochemical characteristics of Qingbai ware from the shipwreck in the Java Sea, revealing that the majority of the Qingbai ware originated from various kilns in the Fujian region.…”

Insights into the Residue Trapped in Glaze Cracks of Archaeological Ceramics Using Microchemical Analysis

“…The traditional approach has been to conduct typo-chronological studies to explore the origin and date of the ceramics that have no clear provenance (Bishop et al, 1982; Gehres & Querré, 2018). More recently, scholars have been using a combination of typo-chronological methods with chemical fingerprinting to determine the geographical provenance of ceramics (Tochilin et al, 2012; Eiselt et al, 2019; Li et al, 2021). However, the provenance of the Ge ware is difficult to establish as such items have never been found in any archaeological excavation.…”