[Article] Locations of Origin of the Domestic Raw Materials for Leaded Copper and When They Started to Be Used as Seen from Bronze Bowls Excavated in Chugoku and Shikoku Regions

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  • [論文] 中国四国地方で出土した銅鋺からみた国産銅鉛原材料の産出地と使用開始時期

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This paper reports archeological findings of bronze bowls from the 6th to 7th centuries excavated in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions along with the results of lead isotope ratio and metallic composition ratio analyses, and comments on locations of origin of the domestic raw materials for leaded copper and when they started to be used. Specifically, physicochemical analysis points to raw materials originating in the Korean Peninsula in footless, rounded-bottom bronze bowls which co-occur with the type TK209 period of Sue pottery (Tsuyama City Tonoda Tumulus No.1 and Kuromotodani Tumulus) and domestic raw materials in footless, flat-bottom bronze bowls which co-occur with the type TK217 period of Sue pottery (Tsuyama City Kojinnishi Tumulus and Takehara City Yokodaido Tumulus No.8), indicating the correlation between the morphological characteristics and the raw materials and indicating the possibility that the start of domestic raw material use may go back to the mid-7th century. In particular, the lead isotope ratios of Kojinnishi bronze bowls and Yokodaido bronze bowls indicate values similar to Wadokaichin coins, including Kowado ("old Wado"), and this report discusses the possibility that the development of Naganobori, Kawaradake, and nearby copper mines, which show similar values, may go back to the mid-7th century. When such findings are taken along with Shuichi Kameda's opinion pointing out domestic copper production involving foreign settlers going back to before mid-7th century and Hisao Mabuchi's lead isotope ratio analysis results pointing out use of raw materials originating in Ushirono, Izumo City in the type TK43 period, this paper indicates that the start of domestic raw material use may even go back to the late 6th century. This paper also makes a case for the need to consider from northern Kyushu to eastern Chugoku Mountains when seeking locations of origin of the raw materials for leaded copper, including Kawaradake and Ushirono, Izumo City, in addition to the traditionally expected Naganobori copper mine area. I hope this paper intensifies further research on this topic.

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