China News Service, Taiyuan, January 15 (Reporter Hu Jian) ​​Selected as the "Top Ten Archaeological News in China in 2020" for the discovery of bronzes with inscriptions from the Zhou Dynasty, the Beibai Goose Cemetery in Yuanqu, Shanxi Province, the latest inspection came on the 15th It is reported that scientific research experts from many places in China extracted the chemical remains of cosmetic oils in a copper box, which is of great significance for exploring the lives of women in the Zhou Dynasty.

　　The Yuanqu North White Goose Cemetery is an important discovery in Shang and Zhou archaeology in Shanxi in recent years. After the archaeological excavation and clearing of the field, the archaeologists of the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology worked with the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Museum of China, and Jilin University , Northwest University, Shanxi University and other scientific research institutions to carry out scientific testing and physical and chemical analysis.

Researchers analyze the residue by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy.

Photo courtesy of Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute

　　Archaeologists found 7 copper boxes in the cemetery. One of the rectangular copper boxes has a lid that can be opened left and right. The two doors are equipped with buttons. When the copper box was unearthed, it was full of colored residues. There is a copper spoon, which is used with the copper box.

　　At that time, the archaeologists believed that the copper box might be a shrink-wrapped car used to transport coffins, or a jewelry box or cosmetic box.

After testing by professional institutions, archaeologists extracted chemical remains of cosmetic oils in the copper box, which proved the theory of “cosmetic box”.

　　In addition, the researchers obtained fruit wine and other ingredients in a copper kettle, and used X-ray imaging technology to order the bronze inscriptions.

In addition, scientific researchers are conducting research and analysis on the manufacturing process, bone shape, and protein of copperware.

　　According to Yang Jiyun, an associate researcher of the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, after collecting literature, referring to previous research results, and combining unearthed data, it is preliminarily determined that the nature of the cemetery is a branch of the Zhao family Taibaoyizhong (Yanzhong) in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Yap public cemetery.

The liquid sample in the copper kettle.

Photo courtesy of Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute

　　Yang Jiyun introduced that after the rescue excavation in 2020, a comprehensive investigation and drilling of the cemetery was quickly launched.

At present, 65 large, medium and small tombs, 105 ash pits, 1 pottery kiln, 2 gullies, 35 unidentified earth pits, 3 carts and horses pits have been found in the southern part of the site, one of which is long. It is 11 meters wide, 6 meters wide, and 3.5 meters deep.

　　Next, archaeologists will continue to expand the scope of investigation and drilling, and use RTK mapping, remote sensing archaeology and other imaging methods to obtain large-area image data, find the remains of living settlements such as city sites and workshops, and comprehensively use the research methods of large-site settlement archaeology. Promote research on the functional zoning of cemeteries and ruins.

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