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<p>Turquoise (CuAl<sub>6</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>4</sub>(OH)<sub>8</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O) was a globally significant gemstone in prehistoric civilizations, and played a prominent role in symbolism, exchange, and social differentiation. In Neolithic China, turquoise artifacts are particularly important for understanding early ritual practices and emerging socio-economic networks. During the 2013 excavation of the Jiahu Site (9000 − 7500&#xa0;cal. BP) in Henan Province, central China, numerous turquoise artifacts were unearthed, yet their provenance has remained unresolved. To resolve this issue, we conducted a multi-technique analysis on 162 Jiahu turquoise artifacts and mineral samples from three newly identified deposits in Xichuan County. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) identified 161 artifacts and 56 mineral samples as turquoise, with one artifact classified as amazonite. Initial mineralogical characterization <i>via</i> extended depth-of-field microscopy (EDFM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the closest affinities to Hubei-Henan-Shaanxi turquoise deposits. Trace element compositions obtained by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) also support this regional attribution. Subsequent principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) provide finer discrimination. It reveals that Jiahu turquoise exhibits closest geochemical correspondence with deposits at the Baliping and Dashiqiao in Xichuan County and with unknown ore veins along the northern margin of the Middle Belt, while remaining distinct from Shaanxi and Hubei. These findings indicates that Jiahu communities primarily exploited nearby turquoise resources rather than distant mining regions, shedding new light on middle Neolithic resource procurement strategies and regional interaction networks in central China.</p>

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Provenance of turquoise artifacts from the Middle Neolithic Jiahu Site: A multi-technique approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月11日

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  • Yiwen Zhang,
  • Yuzhang Yang,
  • Ling Liu,
  • Ye Yuan,
  • Wanli Lan,
  • Yanfang Wu,
  • Yan Jiang,
  • Mingxing Yang,
  • Juzhong Zhang

摘要

Turquoise (CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O) was a globally significant gemstone in prehistoric civilizations, and played a prominent role in symbolism, exchange, and social differentiation. In Neolithic China, turquoise artifacts are particularly important for understanding early ritual practices and emerging socio-economic networks. During the 2013 excavation of the Jiahu Site (9000 − 7500 cal. BP) in Henan Province, central China, numerous turquoise artifacts were unearthed, yet their provenance has remained unresolved. To resolve this issue, we conducted a multi-technique analysis on 162 Jiahu turquoise artifacts and mineral samples from three newly identified deposits in Xichuan County. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) identified 161 artifacts and 56 mineral samples as turquoise, with one artifact classified as amazonite. Initial mineralogical characterization via extended depth-of-field microscopy (EDFM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed the closest affinities to Hubei-Henan-Shaanxi turquoise deposits. Trace element compositions obtained by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) also support this regional attribution. Subsequent principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) provide finer discrimination. It reveals that Jiahu turquoise exhibits closest geochemical correspondence with deposits at the Baliping and Dashiqiao in Xichuan County and with unknown ore veins along the northern margin of the Middle Belt, while remaining distinct from Shaanxi and Hubei. These findings indicates that Jiahu communities primarily exploited nearby turquoise resources rather than distant mining regions, shedding new light on middle Neolithic resource procurement strategies and regional interaction networks in central China.