Where were the Sanxingdui bronzes made, and where did their metal come from?
Most likely: heads, masks and trees were cast locally; the zun and lei vessels were made in the middle or lower Yangtze…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
Where it stands
Four answers have been proposed. Heads, masks and trees were cast locally; the zun and lei vessels were made in the middle or lower Yangtze… leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, one is answered.
Answers 4
History
- Lian et al. puts forward: all the bronzes were cast locally at or near Sanxingdui.
- Lian et al. puts forward: heads, masks and trees were cast locally; the zun and lei vessels were made in the middle or lower Yangtze…
- Lian et al. puts forward: the vessels were custom-made at the Shang capital Anyang and sent to Sanxingdui.
- Lian et al.: vessel cores (Groups B and C) differ from local natural samples and match middle and lower Yangtze casting…Against: All the bronzes were cast locally at or near Sanxingdui.
- Lian et al.: 39 casting cores from Pits 1 and 2 form groups by object class; non-vessel cores match local materials,…For: Heads, masks and trees were cast locally; the zun and lei vessels were made in the middle or lower Yangtze…
- Lian et al.: vessel cores align with middle and lower Yangtze casting cores rather than with other sites compared.Against: The vessels were custom-made at the Shang capital Anyang and sent to Sanxingdui.
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