Book Reviews
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BOOK REVIEWS Copper and Bronze Metallurgy in Late Prehistoric Xinjiang: Its Cultural Context and Relationship with Neighboring Regions. Jianjun Mei. BAR International Series 865. Oxford: Archaeopress. 2000. 187 pp, 31 tables, 12 maps, 155 figures, bibliogra phy, £30.00. ISBN 1-84171-068-7. Reviewed by Vincent C. Pigott, Institute ofArchaeology, University College, London The excavation by Chinese archaeologists cal interaction existed between Xinjiang of naturally mummified Caucasoid indivi and its neighboring regions during the duals dating as early as the second millen Bronze (c. 2000-1000 B.C.) and Iron Ages nium B.C. in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, (c. 1000-300 B.C.). His overarching goal China's westernmost province, are of un is to furnish an enhanced understanding questionable import in discussions of the of the archaeological and cultural contexts movements of people across Eurasia in later of late prehistoric Xinjiang, while at the prehistory. The cemeteries in which the same time offering a new perspective on Tarim mummies were found mark what how metallurgy spread into the province, is currently the easternmost presence of and how this technology may have reached ancient Europoid peoples, representatives eastwards into the Chinese heartland. of the Eurasian steppe culture (see Barber In his introductory chapter Mei reviews 1999; Mair 1998; Mair and Mallory 2000). both the background of the development Metal artifacts in copper and its alloys stand of archaeology and the foci of pertinent among the most important possible archae prior research in Xinjiang. Crucial here is ological markers of these wide-ranging the role of external cultural influences in movements. Jianjun Mei, in this publica the development of settlement occupation. tion of his doctoral thesis at the University Moreover, it is clear from Mei's discussions of Cambridge, has opened the door on a that the current wave of archaeological re wealth of hitherto uncirculated archaeo search, much of it from Eurasia during the logical data both on the archaeology of 1990s, has altered traditional thinking (even Xinjiang province and on the coming of among the Chinese) about the develop copperjbronze to this geographically and ment of Chinese civilization as an exclu culturally pivotal region ofdesert and oases. sively indigenous process, especially where Mei seeks answers to four research ques metallurgy is concerned. This theme under tions: (1) when, where, and how copper pins discussion throughout the volume. and its alloys began to be used, (2) what Mei divides the remainder of his publi metallurgical technologies were employed, cation into three major components. In (3) what the cultural context was for the the first component (Chapters 2 and 3) he beginning and early use of metals, and (4) reviews the archaeological evidence for at what cultural connections and technologi- least fourteen Bronze Age cultures and a Asian Pcrspclti.,l's, Vol. 41, No.1 © 2002 by Universicy ofHawai'j Press. 168 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES 41 (2) . FALL 2001 similar number of Iron Age cultures from socketed dagger-axes, and handled mirrors the various regions ofXinjiang (Chapter 2). as well as items in precious metals, silk, and He undertakes next a substantive typol lacquer strongly suggest that Central Asia ogical investigation of six major categories was linked by trade routes through Xin of metal artifacts from these periods, e.g., jiang with northwest China, i.e., the Gansu implements, weapons, harness and chariot corridor. It is in Gansu that some of Chi fittings, vessels, toilet articles, and orna na's earliest copper-base artifacts have been ments (Chapter 3). excavated (see Linduff et al. 2000). The second component (Chapters 4 and In Mei's detailed discussions of the ty 5) consists of a review ofprevious analytical pology of copper-base artifacts, there are research on Xinjiang metal finds as well repeated references to the similarities ap as an analytical program focused on metal parent between artifacts excavated in Xin samples supplied to him by local archae jiang and those of known Andronovo type ologists. Chapter 4 presents the results from from neighboring Eurasian locales. These the battery of analyses he performed to ob categories include shaft-hole axes, sickles, serve microstructure and determine com flanged adzes, and socketed celts. Through position of 58 metal samples with a goal of these artifact and site-specific discussions, comparing the technologies of the various Mei offers persuasive evidence for the im cultural groups he has identified. In Chap pact of Eurasian steppe culture on Xin ter 5 his investigation becomes site specific jiang. Nor can we ignore indications, and focuses on the important finds from though currently based on less substantive the mining and smelting site of Nulasai in evidence, of contact between Xinjiang and Nileke which, on current evidence, appears bronze-using cultures to the east. to date to the first millennium B.C., but Mei, who is trained in metallurgy as well may well be earlier. This site, with its un as archaeology, conducted his own labora common finds of mines and associated pro tory analyses. They give us the first glimpse duction debris, is one of but a handful of of the levels of sophistication attained in such documented sites currently known the metalworker's craft as well as the mul across Eurasia. tiple, alloying traditions being employed. In his final component (Chapters 6 and Copper and tin-bronze artifacts are present 7), Mei turns to a synthetic overview of in Xinjiang from the early second mil cultural interrelationships between Xin lennium B.C. while, interestingly, arsenical jiang and regions to the east, west, and copper doesn't seem to appear until the north. He concludes with a discussion of later centuries of this period. In the early the development of copper and bronze first millennium B.C. artifacts in copper ap metallurgy in the region. Significant new pear with more frequency due to what Mei archaeological data, much of it from Chi suggests is the exploitation of local copper nese sources, is presented in this volume, in deposits near Urumchi. Thus, when com particular that concerned with widespread pared to western Asia, copper and its alloys contact between Xinjiang and neighboring appear relatively late in Xinjiang and ap regions. The initial occurrence of artifacts parently not in the more time-honored in copper (at Gumugou) and tin-bronze (at sequence of copper, then arsenical copper Tianshanbeilu) in Xinjiang takes place in followed by bronze as seen in the Near the early centuries of the second millen East, Central Asia, and Eurasia. The some nium B.C. what jumbled Xinjiang sequence, in Mei's Turning to the Iron Age, this period is estimation, reflects the introduction of tin marked by major changes including not bronze and perhaps even arsenical copper only the coming of iron, but also the artifacts and/or metallurgy from outside the increasing use of gold and silver, and the region followed by attempts to produce practice of horse nomadism. However, as metal locally. On the more technical side, indicated by the unique evidence from Mei argues that the presence of sulfide Nulasi, copper mining and smelting con inclusions in the microstructure of artifacts tinued unabated. Bronze artifacts, including from the Tacheng region suggests that BOOK REVIEWS copper sulfide ores were being smelted. and into northern Xinjiang. Increasing He adopts the traditional 'matte' smelting contact with the Chinese heartland was model involving the roasting of sulfide ores occurring in the late first millennium B.C. prior to smelting to explain the production as marked by the presence of silk, lacquer, of the Nulasi ingots. In future research he and mirrors. Cast iron and its technology might also consider the possibility of the reaches Xinjiang from the central plains of co-smelting of sulfide and oxidic ores China at this time as well, brought perhaps directly to copper in a one-step produc by the Saka. tion process without roasting. Research by What Jianjun Mei has achieved in this William Rostoker and colleagues (1989; volume is a unique synthesis, from a variety Rostaker and Dvorak 1991) and that by of mostly new sources, of the critical infor Heather Lechtman and Sabine Klein (1999) mation concerning copper-base metals and has introduced co-smelting as a highly fea metallurgy in Xinjiang from the point of sible alternative to the matte process and initial appearance shortly after c. 2000 B.C. one which can yield arsenical copper. down into the Iron Age. But this volume When Mei turns his attention to east is much more than a study in a single of Xinjiang, and to Bronze Age cultural technology, it is a harbinger of continuing contact with the Gansu-Qinghai region, he revelations concerning the complex later sees not only an influx of painted pottery prehistory of Eurasia. Mei's research con into Xinjiang from this region, but also cretizes the crucial role played by Xinjiang looks at the presently modest evidence for in the transmission of cultural and tech the spread of copperjbronze metallurgy nological traditions both East and West. into Gansu-Qinghai from external sources. He states rather decisively that "one thing One potential source is the possible in appears quite clear: Andronovo expansion teraction between the Machang (Gansu played a vital role in the transmission of Qinghai) and Afanasievo (southern Siberia) copper and bronze technologies in Eurasia cultures in eastern Xinjiang. Arsenical cop during the second millennium B.C." (p. per appears late in both regions, but it is 74). Furthermore, Mei's study does noth not clear ifit has any direct links to Central ing to dispel the suggestion that this rapid Asian-Eurasian traditions. cultural expansion may well have had an Iron appears c.