Study of Ink stick unearthed from the tomb of Fan Xiaochong in Shaanxi Province

This study is based on the ink stick unearthed from the tombs of the Northern Song Dynasty (960 CE–1127 CE) in Xi ’an, Shaanxi Province. The sample was analyzed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Energy dispersive analysis (EDS) and Microscopic laser Raman spectroscopy (Raman). The sample was identified as pine-soot ink, and there is a possibility that animal glue was added during the production process. In addition, lime (CaCO3) for shade drying, lithargite (PbO) for insecticidal effect and white quartz (SiO2), which is used to increase the luster of the ink and remove moisture, were detected in both the ash and the ink stick. This study reveals the production process of pine-soot ink from an inorganic point of view and enriches the study of ancient Chinese ink sticks.