Luminescence study of the initial, pre-casting firing temperatures of clay mould and core used for bronze casting at Yinxu (13c. BC∼11c. BC)

During the Anyang period in Shang dynasty (13c.BC ∼ 11c.BC), the bronze manufacture of Ancient China reached its maximum glory and splendor, as evidenced by the casting moulds and cores unearthed in the Yinxu. The pre-casting firing temperature of the moulds, one of the key technologies in the casting system, is still a controversial issue. In this article, the firing temperature of the mould and the core, unearthed at the Xiaomintun Site, Yin ruins, is estimated to be 600°C-700 °C, analyzed by luminescence techniques. This study can settle down the dispute in the results of the thermal expansion analysis.