Trace Metals in Soils as Indicators of Past Human Activities at Hanwangdu East, Anyang, China

Summary

Through chemical analyses of soils, bones, and organic residues, archaeologists can identify anthropogenic impacts on environment at archaeological sites. In this research, we are interested in understanding if and how bronze production had impact on the environment during Bronze Age China. Soil samples from Hanwangdu East, a Middle Shang period site at Anyang, were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The purpose of this project is to 1) evaluate if ICP-MS is a proper method to analysis soil samples regarding of soil-metal concentration; 2) compare soil samples from different contexts, such as ash pits, water wells, canals, and house structures, of the same time period, and samples from features of different time period to identify anthropogenic influence on soil-metal concentration related to bronze production. We expect to see different geochemical signals in the soil depending on the various contexts of this site. We hope to gain a better understanding of the anthropogenic and natural soil properties at Anyang, especially during the Middle Shang period.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Lifeways in Bronze Age China

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17324