Ruins in Hunan shed light on early metalwork

The Hunan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology recently published new archaeological excavation information about the Guantian Ruins in Sangzhi county of Zhangjiajie, Hunan province.

It is can be confirmed that the ruins are those of a polymetal production workshop, which chose iron as raw material, integrating smelting iron, casting, annealing, forging, refining and other technologies. Copper ware was also produced, experts from the institute said.

It is the largest excavated site focused on metalwork of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and the Jin Dynasty (265-420) in South China so far, the institute said.

With an area of 75,000 square meters, the ruins were found in 2015, and archaeologists have unearthed relics made of pottery, porcelain, iron, copper, blended metals and stone.

The newly discovered furnaces have unique forms, clear functions and significant local characteristics, which filled in a number of gaps in the study of ancient iron production and processing.

Among them, some forms of iron furnaces were first discovered in the southern region, a significant find in handicraft archaeology in the Han and Jin Dynasties.

It also provides important data for the study of different furnace types, functional layouts and production processes of iron workshops in South China during the period.

"It is of great research value to study the dissemination of steel-making technology in China, the development of a social economy in minority areas, the political relationship between the central and local governments and the evolution of the multi-integration pattern of Chinese civilization," said Mo Linheng, head of the the Guantian Ruins excavation project.