Abstract:

A large number of various exquisite bronze handcrafts had been unearthed from Hongtupo Stone Coffin Tombs in Xiangyun County, Yunnan. These handcrafts have been known as a paragon of bronze culture in Erhai area. To further the investigation of the craftsmanship of handcrafts in Hongtupo Stone Coffin Tombs, chemical components of Hongtupo Stone Coffin Tombs' handcrafts (including swords, spears, tomahawks, axes, hoes, animal models, and scepters) were analyzed through component analysis, and pilot studies had been done on the handcrafts. The investigation result shows that the composition of the bronze handcrafts unearthed from Hongtupo Stone Coffin Tombs is mainly either red bronze or low tin bronze. Being low in tin is one of the features of bronzes unearthed
from these tombs. These bronze handcrafts were primarily used as burial weapons with a few were for practical use. Very few of them are ternary alloys of copper, tin and lead. Ternary alloys containing lead shows that the technology of adding lead in alloys had been emerged by the time they were buried. The craftsmanship is mainly cast, and some implements are plated with tin. This investigation result will be valuable for future exploration of metal technology and culture feature during Bronze Age in Erhai area.

Key words: Hongtupo, Xiangyun County, bronze copper, component analysis, cast, tin plating