# Lian 2025: Deciphering the origins of Sanxingdui bronzes through petrographic and elemental analysis of casting cores > Huiru Lian, Xiaotian Zeng, Pei Liang et al., 2025. 25 records on Mysteries Department cite it. The main English-language scientific source for where the… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739MVY6VCB/deciphering-the-origins-of-sanxingdui-bronzes-through Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) --- [Sources](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources)[Sanxingdui and its sacrificial pits](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui)Lian 2025 **0** # Deciphering the origins of Sanxingdui bronzes through petrographic and elemental analysis of casting cores Huiru Lian, Xiaotian Zeng, Pei Liang et al., 2025. _Journal of Archaeological Science 178, 106212_. Petrography and major-element analysis of 39 casting cores from bronzes in Pits 1 and 2, compared with local soils and sediments and with cores from other Shang and Zhou casting sites. Non-vessel bronzes (heads, masks, trees) were probably cast locally; the zun and lei vessels match the middle and lower Yangtze. Summarises earlier lead isotope work showing highly radiogenic lead in all tested Sanxingdui bronzes. **Sanxingdui and its sacrificial pits** ArticleCopy of **[Casting-core samples from 39 bronzes in Pits 1 and 2](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A4QR4C1K/casting-core-samples-from-39-bronzes-in-pits-1-and-2)** doi: **[10.1016/j.jas.2025.106212](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106212)** Checked against the original0 ## What it's used for here The main English-language scientific source for where the bronzes were made, and a review of the dates and isotope work. ## The document 36 pages [Pages][Text]Page 1 of 36 [![Page 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p1)1][![Page 2](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p2)2][![Page 3](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p3)3][![Page 4](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p4)4][![Page 5](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p5)5][![Page 6](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p6)6][![Page 7](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p7)7][![Page 8](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p8)8][![Page 9](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p9)9][![Page 10](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p10)10][![Page 11](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p11)11][![Page 12](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p12)12] ![Page 1 of Deciphering the origins of Sanxingdui bronzes through petrographic and elemental analysis of casting cores](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/v/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad/p1) The first 12 pages are shown; the rest are in the file. Text taken from the file. Check it against the page. ## Cited by on this site 25 records [All the bronzes were cast locally at or near Sanxingdui.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739Z4236YM/all-the-bronzes-were-cast-locally-at-or-near-sanxingdui) Answer ANS [Heads, masks and trees were cast locally; the zun and lei vessels were made in the middle or lower Yangtze…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D739ZKP4JM4/heads-masks-and-trees-were-cast-locally-the-zun-and-lei) Answer ANS [The vessels were custom-made at the Shang capital Anyang and sent to Sanxingdui.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/answers/ANS0D73A03A52W4/the-vessels-were-custom-made-at-the-shang-capital-anyang-and) Answer ANS [Bronze box with tortoise-shaped lid and jade inside](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A4FY4CB6/bronze-box-with-tortoise-shaped-lid-and-jade-inside) ART [Bronze figure with a human head on a snake's body, holding a lei, with a zun on its head](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A4847Y61/bronze-figure-with-a-human-head-on-a-snakes-body-holding-a) ART [Casting-core samples from 39 bronzes in Pits 1 and 2](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A4QR4C1K/casting-core-samples-from-39-bronzes-in-pits-1-and-2) ART [Largest bronze mask from the new pits (74 × 135 cm)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A40A0G2M/largest-bronze-mask-from-the-new-pits-74-135-cm) ART [The 1986 bronzes from Pits 1 and 2 (standing figure, heads, masks and trees)](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A6EE2H2P/the-1986-bronzes-from-pits-1-and-2-standing-figure-heads) ART [The eight pits of the sacrificial area](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/artifacts/ART0D73A5F61VEP/the-eight-pits-of-the-sacrificial-area) ART [Casting-core samples from 39 bronzes in Pits 1 and 2: document](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/copies/CPY0D73A57C7THQ/casting-core-samples-from-39-bronzes-in-pits-1-and-2) CPY [Casting-core petrography and major elements, Pits 1 and 2 (Supplementary Tables S1–S6)](https://mysteriesdept.com/datasets/DAT0D73A31208K6/casting-core-petrography-and-major-elements-pits-1-and-2) Dataset DAT [39 casting cores from Pits 1 and 2 form groups by object class; non-vessel cores match local materials,…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D739ZVG0KQH/39-casting-cores-from-pits-1-and-2-form-groups-by-object) Evidence EVD [All eight pits are placed in one period, about 3200–3000 BP.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D739Y4T55M1/all-eight-pits-are-placed-in-one-period-about-32003000-bp) Evidence EVD [All tested Sanxingdui bronzes, vessels and non-vessels, show highly radiogenic lead.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D73A12J3N5N/all-tested-sanxingdui-bronzes-vessels-and-non-vessels-show) Evidence EVD [Over 60% of more than 800 analysed late Shang bronzes show the same signature.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D73A1AC1QDS/over-60-of-more-than-800-analysed-late-shang-bronzes-show) Evidence EVD [Vessel cores (Groups B and C) differ from local natural samples and match middle and lower Yangtze casting…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D739ZBW6RKG/vessel-cores-groups-b-and-c-differ-from-local-natural) Evidence EVD [Vessel cores align with middle and lower Yangtze casting cores rather than with other sites compared.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/evidence/EVD0D73A0B4291P/vessel-cores-align-with-middle-and-lower-yangtze-casting) Evidence EVD [Casting cores show local and Yangtze production](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/events/EVT0D739VPP6GZ5/casting-cores-show-local-and-yangtze-production) EVT [Pits 1 and 2 are found and excavated](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/events/EVT0D739TFM0SBZ/pits-1-and-2-are-found-and-excavated) EVT [Six new pits are found and excavated](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/events/EVT0D739V720AXR/six-new-pits-are-found-and-excavated) EVT [The eight pits are filled](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/events/EVT0D739T7T2NS3/the-eight-pits-are-filled) EVT [Sanxingdui and its sacrificial pits](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui) The mystery article MYS [Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/organisations/ORG0D739T006915/sichuan-provincial-institute-of-cultural-relics-and) ORG [Did Sanxingdui share its metal source with the Shang?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739WE46E8Z/did-sanxingdui-share-its-metal-source-with-the-shang) Question QST [Where were the Sanxingdui bronzes made, and where did their metal come from?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/sanxingdui/questions/QST0D739W6A6ACC/where-were-the-sanxingdui-bronzes-made-and-where-did-their) Question QST ## Cite it ``` Lian, H., Zeng, X., Liang, P., Liu, S., Ran, H., Guo, J., Zhang, J., Mei, J., & Chen, K. (2025). Deciphering the origins of Sanxingdui bronzes through petrographic and elemental analysis of casting cores. Journal of Archaeological Science 178, 106212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106212 ``` [Read it free at doi.org](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106212)[Download PDF · 3.7 MB](https://mysteriesdept.com/files/d/aa13e90d722604619203618fa7bbb37e4d7c7205b5ef8c32c51a2705161e71ad) Anyone can read it here; members can download it. Key **SRC** 0D739MVY6VCB Kind Journal article Rights CC-BY-4.0 (accepted manuscript in the Cambridge repository; journal version publisher) Kept 27 Oct 2026 Checked Against the published article Added by [apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo) The record Bibliographic records are CC0. Take this one as CSL-JSON, BibTeX or RIS. [CSL-JSON](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D739MVY6VCB/deciphering-the-origins-of-sanxingdui-bronzes-through/csl.json)