Overview

Over 40,000 lethal bronze weapons were discovered with thousands of terracotta warriors in the tomb complex of the Qin First Emperor (259-210 BC). This book carries out the first systematic and comprehensive study on these weapons to investigate the mass production and labour organisation in early imperial China. The research draws upon extensive measurements, typological analysis and related statistical treatment, as well as a study of the spatial distribution of the bronze weapons. A combination of metrical and spatial data is used to assess the degree of standardisation of the weapons' production, and to evaluate the spatial patterns in the array of the Terracotta Army. This provides further information about the labour organisation behind the production, transportation and placement of weapons as they were moved from the workshop and/or arsenal to the funeral pits. Integrating these insights with inscriptions, tool marks, and chemical analysis, this book fills a gap in the study of mass production, the behaviour of craftspeople, and related imperial logistical organisation in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), marking the most crucial early stage in Chinese political unification.

Full Product Details

Author:   Xiuzhen Li
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   0.953kg
ISBN:  

9781407316901

ISBN 10:   1407316907
Pages:   239
Publication Date:   28 July 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

List of figures List of tables Abstract 1. Introduction 1.1. Introduction 1.2 Research review and defining research questions 1.2.1 Previous research on the bronze weapons 1.2.2 Defining research questions 1.3 The Emperor and his tomb complex - defining the temporal and spatial context 1.3.1 The Qin Dynasty and Emperor Qin Shihuang 1.3.2 The tomb complex, the terracotta warriors and the bronze weapons 1.4 Chapter summaries 2. Approaches to Standardisation and Labour Organisation 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Standardisation 2.2.1 A definition of standardisation 2.2.2 Parameters affecting standardisation 2.2.3 How to define and measure standardisation from archaeological data? 2.3 Standardisation and technological organisation 2.3.1 Casting and assembling 2.3.2 Technological models 2.4 Standardisation and specialisation 2.4.1 Specialisation 2.4.2 The hypothesis of standardisation and specialisation 2.5 Standardisation versus variation: copying error 2.6 Spatial signatures of workshop activity and labour organisation 2.6.1 Point pattern analysis 2.6.2 Spatial randomness, regularity, and clustering 2.6.3 First-order effect and second-order effect 2.7 Summary 3. Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Qualitative classification 3.2.1 Functional classification of the weapons 3.2.2 Micro-features 3.2.3 Inscriptions 3.3 Sampling 3.3.1 Principles of sampling 3.3.2 Sampling strategy for this project 3.4 Dimensional measurements and quantitative analysis 3.4.1 Measuring techniques 3.4.2 Metric variables 3.4.3 Accuracy and precision assessment 3.4.4 Statistical analysis 3.4.4.1 Cluster analysis 3.4.4.2 Principal Component Analysis 3.4.4.3 Frequency histogram 3.4.4.4 Coefficient of Variation 3.5 Establishing a GIS database and spatial analysis 3.5.1 Original map 3.5.2 Digital map 3.5.3 Using a local grid 3.5.4 Spatial statistics - pair correlation functions 3.6 Integration with archaeometric data 3.7 Summary 4. Inscriptions on the Weapons 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Types of inscriptions 4.2.1 Cast inscriptions 4.2.2 Carved or chiselled inscriptions 4.2.3 Ink inscriptions 4.3 The content of the inscriptions and the types of weapons 4.3.1 Inscriptions on dagger-axes, spears, and halberds 4.3.2 Inscriptions on lances 4.3.3 Inscriptions on swords 4.3.4 Inscriptions on triggers 4.3.5 Inscriptions on ferrules 4.4 Spatial patterns of the inscribed weapons 4.4.1 Spatial patterns of inscribed halberds 4.4.2 Spatial patterns of inscribed lances 4.4.3 Spatial patterns of inscribed triggers 4.4.4 Spatial patterns of inscribed ferrules 4.5 Function of the inscriptions 4.5.1 Quality control 4.5.2 Assembling triggers 4.5.3 Other functions 4.6 Summary 5. Bronze Triggers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Research review 5.3 Measurements of the bronze triggers 5.3.1 Sources of data 5.3.2 Triggers' function and manipulation 5.3.3 Method of measuring 5.3.4 Patterns in trigger measurements 5.3.4.1 Trigger Part A 5.3.4.2 Trigger Part B 5.3.4.3 Trigger Part C 5.3.5 Analysing the patterns of the triggers 5.4 Coefficients of variation and the degree of standardisation 5.5 Trigger assembly and technological organisation 5.6 Spatial analysis 5.6.1 Parameters affecting the spatial patterns 5.6.2 A pair correlation function 5.6.3 Results obtained on assembled triggers 5.6.4 Activity areas in the pit 5.7 Summary 6. Bronze Arrows 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Research review 6.3 Arrow data 6.3.1 The archaeological origin of the bronze arrows 6.3.2 Bronze arrows from the five easternmost trenches of Pit 1 6.3.2.1 An enumeration of arrows in each corridor 6.3.2.2 The size of the arrow bundles 6.3.2.3 Arrow bundles and quivers 6.3.2.4 Arrow types 6.3.3 A comparison between the arrows from Pit 1 and those from Pit 2 and other sites 6.4 Measurements of the bronze arrows 6.4.1 Sampling strategy 6.4.2 Methodology of the measurements 6.4.3 Patterns in the dimensions of the arrows 6.4.3.1 Measurements of the arrow tangs 6.4.3.2 Measurements of the arrowheads 6.4.4 Coefficient of variation values and degree of standardisation 6.4.4.1 CV values for the arrow tangs 6.4.4.2 CV values for the arrowheads 6.5 Arrow production, assembly and labour organisation 6.5.1 Consistency and variability of arrow bundles 6.5.2 Batch or cell production organisation 6.6 Spatial data 6.6.1 Parameters affecting the spatial patterns 6.6.2 A pair correlation function 6.7 Summary 7. Bronze Ferrules and Long Weapons 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Research review 7.2.1 Ferrules 7.2.2 Bronze blades of long weapons 7.3 Measurements of the bronze ferrules 7.3.1 Sources of data 7.3.2 Methodology for the measurements 7.3.3 Measuring patterns in the ferrules 7.3.4 Analysis of the patterns of each type of ferrules 7.3.4.1 Subgroups within Type I ferrules 7.3.4.2 Subgroups within type III ferrules 7.3.5 Coefficients of variation (CV) and degrees of standardisation 7.4 The bronze long weapons 7.4.1 Sources

Reviews

{\rtf1\fbidis\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Calibri;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Verdana;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\lang1033\f0\fs22\lquote This book is a massively detailed study of this (40,000 bronze weapons) with the specific goal of learning how weapons production was organized and the extent to which products were standardized. Thousands of artifacts were measured very precisely with digital callipers, and statistical studies of the measurements, together with studies of the inscriptions on many of the artifacts, give important insights into both questions.\rquote Donald B. Wagner, Asian Perspectives, Volume 61(1), 2022\par \par \lquote (A) crucial contribution to advancing our knowledge of the Qin\rquote s formidable military power and the underlying social structures of the empire. (\'85) This monograph marks a critical step forward in combining multi-disciplinary methods in Chinese archaeology. It offers an excellent case study of quantitative typological analysis, which builds critical foundations for the spatial analysis in subsequent chapters. The book is accessible, and its statistical and spatial analyses vividly illustrate the great potential of big-data approaches to archaeological research.\rquote Ruiliang Liu, Antiquity (2020)\par \lang2057\par \pard\ltrpar\sa160\sl240\slmult0 'The research methods adopted are innovative and original. The systematic metrical measurements and spatial analysis of the distribution of different types of bronze weapons in the sacrificial pit are especially impressive.\rquote Professor Jianjun Mei, University of Cambridge\par \lquote All of these data are completely new and have made a significant contribution to the overall understanding of the production organization in late Bronze Age China.\rquote Dr Ruiliang Liu, University of Oxford\f1\fs17\par }

{\rtf1\fbidis\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Calibri;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Verdana;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\lang1033\f0\fs22\lquote (A) crucial contribution to advancing our knowledge of the Qin\rquote s formidable military power and the underlying social structures of the empire. (\'85) This monograph marks a critical step forward in combining multi-disciplinary methods in Chinese archaeology. It offers an excellent case study of quantitative typological analysis, which builds critical foundations for the spatial analysis in subsequent chapters. The book is accessible, and its statistical and spatial analyses vividly illustrate the great potential of big-data approaches to archaeological research.\rquote Ruiliang Liu, Antiquity (2020)\par \lang2057\par \pard\ltrpar\sa160\sl240\slmult0 'The research methods adopted are innovative and original. The systematic metrical measurements and spatial analysis of the distribution of different types of bronze weapons in the sacrificial pit are especially impressive.\rquote Professor Jianjun Mei, University of Cambridge\par \lquote All of these data are completely new and have made a significant contribution to the overall understanding of the production organization in late Bronze Age China.\rquote Dr Ruiliang Liu, University of Oxford\par \pard\ltrpar\f1\fs17\par }

'The research methods adopted are innovative and original. The systematic metrical measurements and spatial analysis of the distribution of different types of bronze weapons in the sacrificial pit are especially impressive.' Professor Jianjun Mei, University of Cambridge 'All of these data are completely new and have made a significant contribution to the overall understanding of the production organization in late Bronze Age China.' Dr Ruiliang Liu, University of Oxford

Author Information

Xiuzhen Li is a senior archaeologist at the Museum of the Qin Terracotta Army, China, and has also recently become a departmental lecturer in Chinese Archaeology at University of Oxford. She has contributed substantially to the international collaboration between the Museum and University College London, first via a doctoral project and since as a UCL Honorary Senior Research Associate.

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