X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis of Bronze Artifacts from the Munkhkhairkhan Culture
Keywords:
bronze, copper, tin, arsenic, XRF, Munkhkhairkhan cultureAbstract
The Middle Bronze Age Munkhkhairkhan culture (1900–1500 BCE) has been increasingly studied in recent years and is currently represented by excavation data from more than 30 burials, which have yielded a diverse assemblage of bronze and bone artifacts. However, studies addressing the manufacturing technology of these materials—including their production techniques, raw materials, and compositional characteristics-remain limited. In this study, we conducted a pilot X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the elemental composition of 14 bronze artifacts attributed to the Munkhkhairkhan culture and the Late Bronze Age in order to explore the technological traditions and characteristics of bronze production. The results indicate that the analyzed bronze artifacts are primarily composed of copper, tin, and arsenic, while the proportions of tin (0.04–28%) and arsenic (0.1–15%) exhibit significant variability. This difference may be related to factors such as the function of bronze artifacts, regional ore characteristics, and the availability of tin; however, it also indicates that, for certain artifacts, tin content was deliberately increased to produce ornate bronze objects with a lustrous silvery appearance.
Мөнххайрханы соёлын хүрэл эдлэлд хийсэн рентген флуоресценцийн шинжилгээний үр дүн
Хураангуй. Хүрлийн дунд үед (НТӨ 1900-1500) холбогдох Мөнххайрханы соёл нь 30 гаруйхан булш оршуулгын малтлага судалгааны хэрэглэгдэхүүнээр төсөөлөгдөж буй ч хүрэл, ясаар хийсэн олон төрлийн олдвор илэрдэг өвөрмөц дурсгал билээ. Гэвч тухайн соёлын үйлдвэрлэлийн түүхийг илтгэх эдгээр яс болон хүрэл эдлэлийн боловсруулалт, түүхий эд, орц найрлагын талаарх судалгаа маш бага түвшинд хийгдсэн байна. Энэ удаад бид Мөнххайрханы соёл болон хүрлийн хожуу үед холбогдох нийт 14 хүрэл олдворт рентген флуоресценцийн шинжилгээний (XRF) аргаар химийн элементийн найрлагыг тодорхойлох туршилт судалгаа хийж, тэдний хүрэл боловсруулах арга уламжлал, онцлогийг тандан өгүүлэхийг зорьсон болно. Судалгааны үр дүнд Мөнххайрханы соёлын хүрэл олдворууд нь зэс, цагаан тугалга, хүнцэл гэсэн суурь химийн элементийн агууламжтай байх ч цагаан тугалга (0.04-28%) болон хүнцлийн (0.1-15%) найрлага нь маш өндөр хувийн хэлбэлзэлтэй болохыг тодорхойлов. Энэхүү ялгаа нь тухайн хүрэл эдлэлийн үүрэг зориулалт, бүс нутгийн хүдрийн онцлог, цагаан тугалганы олдоц зэрэг хүчин зүйлээс шалтгаалах ч тухайн цаг үед зарим олдворын цагаан тугалганы орцыг нэмэгдүүлж мөнгөлөг өнгөтэй, чамин хүрэл боловсруулж байсныг илтгэнэ.
Түлхүүр үг: хүрэл, зэс, цагаан тугалга, хүнцэл, XRF, Мөнххайрханы соёл
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