Preliminary Studies On Chemical Composition And Related Issues Of The Pottery Fishing Net Sinkers Recovered From Tomb M3 At Chitangshan Site

The 30 pottery net sinkers found in a pottery jar recovered from tumb M3 at the Chitangshan site in Minhou County,Fuzhou,are newly discovered important archaeological material.Laboratory archaeology,typological analyses,and chemical composition analyses were carried out to explore the provenance information,as well as the issues related to the development of fishing economy in the lower Min River area in Shang and Zhou dynasty.and fishery archaeology.First,we conducted a scientific and ordered laboratory archaeology on the soil blocks containing the net sinkers,recorded as much as possible of the spatial information of each net sinker,collected the samples needed for subsequent analyses.Then I analyzed the typology of the net sinkers,and found that they all have two grooves at each end and a groove in the middle of the front side.However,the sinkers were attributed to two sub-types.The different sub-types may be related to the shaping process and their specified function.Compring with other archeological net sinkers nearby,these sinkers show similarity with those comparary ones from Xitou site,indicating possible ancient cultural communication between them.Then,the chemical composition of the net sinkers and the soil samples were tested via the SEM-EDS method.The elemental data were analyzed through various statistical methods.It is found that the clay composition of the net sinkers showing high Si contents,which is conform to the character of pottery in southern China.The data show high variation,which reflects a low level of pottery manufacture.The chemical composition of the net sinkers and the environmental soil samples show significant difference.Combining the analyses of quartz particles in both the sinkers and the soil,we argue that the main part of these sinkers may not be produced in the local area.In addition,fishing archaeological analyses revealed the practical function of these net sinkers..The activities of fishing kept onbeing prosperous in prehistorical lower Min River velly,and have pregressed gradually.However,perhaps with the development of farming,the importance of fishing relegated with the passage of time.