Technologies and sources of the earliest Chinese bronze horse sculptures unearthed on the Loess Plateau

The domestication of horses, originating from the Eurasian steppe, profoundly impacted early Chinese societies. While late Shang horses and horse-drawn chariots have been widely studied, other representations of horses in material culture remain less explored. This study analyzed China’s earliest bronze horse sculptures, unearthed from a late Shang tomb on the Loess Plateau. The work involved in-situ examination of the crafting traces and subsequent laboratory analysis. The findings enhanced our comprehension of the technical characteristics and potential casting locations of the bronze horses. Comparative evidence identifies the two horses as paired drinking vessels imitating the animal shape, combining local and Central Plains styles. They were likely locally cast on the Loess Plateau utilizing metal raw materials and technologies directly or indirectly imported from the Central Plains. This study offers insights into local bronze handicraft industry and interactions between the Central Plains and surrounding regions during the late Shang period.