Turquoise Ornaments and Inlay technology in Ancient China

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02975
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Qin Xiaoli 金沢大学, 国際文化資源学研究センター, 特任准教授 (70714997)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中村 慎一 金沢大学, 歴史言語文化学系, 教授 (80237403)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): Tamura Tomomi 国立文化財機構, 奈良文化財研究所, 研究員 (10570129) ; Akada Masanori 九州国立博物館, 学芸部博物館科学科, 研究員 (90573501) ; Yoshida Yasuyuki 金沢大学, 国際文化資源学研究センター, 特任准教授 (20585294)
• Research Collaborator: Chen honghai 西北大学, 文化遺産学院, 教授 ; Wang hui 甘粛省文物考古研究所, 所長 ; Rowan Flad ハーバード大学, 人類学系, 教授 ; 陳 星燦 中国社会科学研究院, 考古研究所, 所長 ; 許 宏 中国社会科学研究院, 考古研究所, 研究員 ; 宋 建忠 中国国家文物局, 水下文化遺産保護中心, 主任
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: トルコ石製品 / 東西交流史 / 黄河流域 / 中国初期国家 / 象嵌技術 / 粘着材 / 生産と流通 / 儀礼システム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of inlay is to enhance the beauty of objects by adding color and texture. Archaeological researchers in China have documented the earliest use of inlays to the Middle Neolithic period (around 3300 BC). During that era, the most common material used for inlay was bone, while turquoise was rare. Turquoise inlay became popular starting in the Late Neolithic period (c. 2500 BC). Turquoise inlays are more interesting and attractive than bone inlays, and they continued to play an important decorative role through the Erlitou Culture period (ca. 1900-1600 BC) around the Yellow River region. During the transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, a number of social changes and technological innovations took hold in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The use of bronze and turquoise inlays are two examples of significant technological developments that relate to major social change in the area.

Free Research Field

考古学