How to Blow a Furnace: The Discovery of Ceramic Tuyère Connector From the Guanzhuang Site, Henan, China

ABSTRACT This study presents the first identification of a ceramic tuyère connector from a Bronze Age bronze‐casting workshop in China, revealing a previously unrecognized component of ancient copper‐smelting air‐supply systems. The artifact was subjected to high temperatures associated with molten bronze and lead. Reconstruction suggests that it functioned as a horizontally oriented tubular component with two lateral supports along its body. To endure metallurgical conditions, it was fabricated from red clay tempered with coarse quartz grains in an approximate 2:1 ratio, and its wall was coated with a Ca‐rich coating to enhance resistance to metal corrosion and extend its service life. The connector was likely used in conjunction with an umbrella‐shaped tuyère: one end of the tuyère, attached to a leather or bamboo bellows, was inserted into the connector, which served to provide insulation and structural support. This discovery refines our understanding of the technological sophistication of early copper‐smelting air‐supply systems in ancient China.