An archaeological dig at an ancient tomb in China included some 80 bronze mirrors that were still reflective and retains their original designs such as clouds and ancient scriptures - even after 2,000 years.
Dated back to the Western Han Dynasty, the bronze mirrors were part of a treasure trove uncovered in what is now the Gaozhuang Township in Shaanxi's Xixian New Area, Northwestern China. The bronze mirrors varied in measurement - from a little over three inches (seven centimeters) up to eight inches (22 centimeters). These shiny trinkets were often found close to the head or around the upper body of the remains in the ancient Chinese tombs, as reported in the DailyMail.
A research team from The University of Hong Kong studied the archaeological finds and presented their findings in the article "Close up to the surface: reflections on a preliminary forensic study of four Chinese bronze mirrors," appearing in the latest Heritage Science Journal.
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Accessories to the Chinese Elite
The graveyard in the Gaozhuang Township was home to 400 tombs - mostly elites from the Western Han - as well as a collection of ceramic pottery and bronze ware uncovered by the latest find.
In the published study, researchers Jiafang Liang and Quentin Parker present their forensic study of four pieces of Chinese bronze mirrors together with various groups within the University of Hong Kong: the Architectural Conservation Laboratory, the Department of Physics, Faculty of Medicine, and the Planetary Spectroscopy and Mineralogy Laboratory.
The mirrors subjected to a close-up forensic study were dated to be from the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC), the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), and the later Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD). One of the examined bronze mirrors contained the Chinese characters "jia chang fu gui," translating roughly to "home of prosperity."
Using cutting-edge technology, researchers were able to date the mirrors and identify their construction. They used ultraviolet radiation tests, chemical spot testing, and polarized light microscopy, and subjecting corrosions and earthen encrustations to an additional pXRF X-ray fluorescence, MARS tomography, and infrared spectroscopy.
The first two mirrors, according to the researchers, "appear to have been heavily cleaned, polished and treated with abrasives in modern times," finding corrosion and "inconclusive alloy composition" in the second one. The next two mirrors - tagged Mirror 3 and 4 - are unquestionably authentic as supported by uncovered archaeological evidence.
Chinese Bronze Mirrors: Pieces of Cultural Heritage
Chinese bronze mirrors, according to researchers, are considered "valued cultural heritage items." As for their purpose, they cited a study from Liang, a modern scholar who presented discussions on ancient mirrors. He suggested that the ancient Chinese got the idea for fabricating reflective surfaces in order to see the world as they do from looking at still water, as in a lake or a pond. This led to bronze water basins and eventually, polished bronze plates that created recognizable reflections.
The oldest Chinese bronze mirror discovered was in Gansu Province, also in Northwestern China, dated to the ancient Qijia culture from the Neolithic period. Over the Chinese's 4,000 years of history, bronze mirrors underwent significant improvements and prominence during the Warring States, the Han, and the Tang periods.
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