中国古代单质锌始炼年代新考

A New Study on the Date of the Beginning of the Refining of Zinc in Ancient China

单质锌是中国古代最晚被冶炼的有色金属,多数学者认为始炼时间为明代晚期。锌的名物考证显示,其名称沿着产地名和产品名两个方向演化,文本意义上的锌冶炼时间能早到明宣德年间;分析考古出土青花瓷器和地层关系,以天启说为代表的明晚期观点已经被突破;碳十四测年结果说明,考古遗址中单质锌冶炼遗迹的年代已达到明宣德年间。由于有多重证据指向明代早期,中国古代单质锌的始炼时间提早了200余年。

Elemental zinc is the most recent non-ferrous metal smelted in ancient China.Most scholars believe that its usage commences in the late Ming Dynasty. Etymological research on the Chinese word for zinc name shows that it is connected with the place of origin and the name of the product. In textual sources, it can be traced back to the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty(A.D. 1425-14353.). Archaeologically excavated blue-and-white porcelain and associated radiocarbon dates suggest the presence of elemental zinc since the early Ming period around the time of the Xuande period, indicating that it occurred 200 years earlier than previously thought.