A new approach in petrographic analysis of Loessic ceramics: Late Shang and Western Zhou bronze casting moulds

Studying ceramics in Chinese archaeology in the early dynasties often faced the issue of analyzing ceramics high in quartz all within the same silt size due to the use of loess. The traditional method of petrographic analysis is insufficient in differentiating between these raw materials due to the nature of loess. This research presents a new method of analyzing Chinese ceramic that allows for greater sensitivity in differentiating between silt-sized quartz materials, beyond comparing the fabrics to grainsize and mineral. The petrography analysis developed in this research incorporates the petrographic method in stone paste raw materials to help produce specific signatures for particular silt-rich fabric. This research allows a more accurate comparison of the high silt materials between different artifact groups. •Petrographic analysis on silt raw material.•Microscopic variations in Chinese bronze casting moulds.•Chinese Bronze casting technology.•Sequence of production of bronze casting moulds.