https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-07014-4
Regular Article
Provenance and production of lead beads from the Nanhai No. I shipwreck: insights from neutron imaging and multi-technique analysis
1
National Centre for Archaeology, 100013, Beijing, China
2
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
3
Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, 100049, Beijing, China
4
National Research Center for Geoanalysis, 100037, Beijing, China
5
Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy, 102413, Beijing, China
a
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b
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Received:
17
July
2025
Accepted:
29
October
2025
Published online:
8
November
2025
Abstract
This study presents the first comprehensive archeometric investigation of miniature lead–tin beads (diameter < 5 mm) recovered from the Nanhai No. I shipwreck, dating to the Southern Song dynasty (thirteenth century CE). Combining elemental analysis, lead isotope measurements, Raman spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, and neutron imaging, the research reconstructs the beads’ material composition, manufacturing techniques, and provenance. Neutron imaging effectively reveals internal features, including central perforations and the absence of casting defects, suggesting that the beads were likely cast in molds fitted with slender metal or organic pins to create the perforations. Chemical results show that the beads were made from a relatively pure lead–tin alloy (Pb > 90%, Sn < 10%), designed for low melting points and efficient casting. Raman and SEM analyses reveal a distinct corrosion pattern, with a PbO2-rich dark core and a whitish lead carbonate surface, reflecting long-term burial in a marine environment. Lead isotope ratios suggest the raw materials likely originated from smelting centers in coastal regions such as Zhejiang or Fujian, aligning with the ship’s trading route. These findings highlight not only the technological strategies behind low-cost, high-output metal goods, but also the role of localized manufacture and regional resource use in the maritime economy of the Southern Song. The study provides new perspectives on the circulation of minor commodities and the integration of coastal industries into broader trade networks along the Maritime Silk Road.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-07014-4.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
Naisheng Li and Dian Chen are co-first authors.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
