Source, craftsmanship, and exchange: The first comprehensive scientific analysis of gold foils unearthed from Xinjiang (6th–3rd centuries BCE)

This study presents the first systematic provenance analysis of raw materials used in ancient Chinese gold artifacts, focusing on 16 gold foil fragments excavated from archaeological sites in Xinjiang, China, dating to the 6th–3rd centuries BCE. Most samples are associated with the Pazyryk culture, with one attributed to the Suodunbulake culture. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we analyzed surface morphology, elemental composition, and lead isotope ratios. The foils, uniformly hammered thickness of 40–50 μm, exhibit elemental signatures consistent with alluvial gold, including tin concentrations exceeding 100 ppm and platinum over 20 ppm. Remarkably, some foils from the Qiangkanhe site contain exceptionally high endogenous mercury levels (some reaching up to 30 %), ruling out artificial addition. Lead isotope analysis reveals distinct source regions: the Qiangkanhe gold likely originate from the Rudny Altai region in Russia, while gold from Fuyun County and the Suodunbulake culture appears to derive from the Tianshan-Beishan region. These findings offer new insights into ancient gold craftsmanship, raw material procurement, and exchange networks within the Pazyryk culture and its neighboring groups, and lay the groundwork for further research on early Chinese gold artifacts.