Scientific Analysis of Beads Unearthed from Tomb M38 at Changshannan Cemetery, Huaibei City, Anhui Province, China

The analytical techniques employed include portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), laser Raman spectroscopy, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and optical microscopy (OM). The results indicated that all of the samples are locally produced lead-barium silicate artefacts which can be classified into three distinct types: compound eye lead-barium glass beads, monochrome lead-barium glass beads, and compound eye lead-barium faience beads.

The glass beads were manufactured using the winding method, with their eye decorations formed through a layered inlay process. The faience beads consist of a body surrounded by a multi-layered outer glaze: the body is made of a silica- and lead- rich material, while the outer decoration involves applying multiple layers of glaze using the direct glazing method. Glass beads are coloured by transition metal ions, whereas the blue and brown glaze layers of faience beads are coloured by Chinese blue (BaCuSi₄O₁₀) and hematite, respectively. The high strontium content of the lead-barium samples indicates the use of witherite sourced from the metallogenic belt of the Qinling–Daba Mountains.