Scientific Analysis of the Gilt-Bronze Chariot Parasol Component of the Eastern Han Dynasty Excavated from the Dafenbao Cemetery, Pengshan, Sichuan, China

Abstract Herein, the gilt-bronze Gaigongmao (chariot parasol component) were excavated in the Dafenbao cemetery, Pengshan county, Sichuan province, China. The function and the usage of the chariot parasol component have been inferred in this paper, and the virtual restoration pictures were diagramed. The samples were characterized by combining Ultra depth of field 3D microscope, ART-FTIR, SEM-EDS, element mapping, and wood species identification. The fibers around the Gaigongmao were detected as cotton threads, and the woods inside was bamboo, thus, the type of the parasol was presumed to be the San type. The gilding technology of the gilt-bronze was resulted for traditional mercury amalgam technology, and the traditional “Yaguang” technic can be observed in the SEM images. By comparing with the other data, the lead isotope date of the Gaigongmao was found falling within the range of the Yangtze River basin.