A lead isotope study of the fourth century B.C. bronze artifacts excavated from Guozhuang Chu graveyard in Shangcai County, Henan Province, Central China

MC-ICP-MS analysis was conducted on fourteen bronze artifacts of the early Warring States Period (475–376 B.C.), excavated from Guozhuang Chu graveyard in Shangcai County, Henan Province, central China. The lead isotope ratios conform to the characteristics of common lead. Complex lead ore sources suggest Northeastern Jiangxi Province as the main sourcing area, while Southwestern Henan Province may also provide a small amount of lead ore. Some lead ore may also be derived from other countries, such as Ba, Qi, or Yan States. A further study shows that during the Warring States Period, the bronze cultural spheres around Jin, Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, and Ba kingdoms share a distinctive feature based on lead isotope ratios. In the case of Chu, there were differences between border areas and king city regions, but on the whole, the difference was small. In addition, some raw material exchange may exist between the bronze cultural spheres of Chu, Jin, Qi, and Ba.