Isotopic provenance analysis reveals distinct lead circulation routes across early China, highlighting preferential transport along the western Dabie Mountains.
The incorporation of lead into copper‐based alloys constitutes a significant technological innovation in early dynastic China. The circulation of distinct lead types provides crucial insights into the nature of inter‐regional communication networks during this period. Through lead isotopic analysis, we propose a major type of lead utilized during the Shang–Zhou transition periods, which has been recovered both from Yinxu in ingot form and from a distant site of Zhengxiaozhuang as pure lead objects. Mapping its geographic distribution reveals that potential connections between the Central Plains and the Yangtze River region were more pronounced along the western flank of the Dabie Mountains compared with the eastern routes.
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Luo et al. (2026) studied this question.
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