Mineral origin of tremolite jade artifacts from the Guojiamiao Cemetery, Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Hubei, China: based on petrology, spectroscopy, and geochemistry

The origin of raw materials is a crucial area of study in jade archaeology, with significant importance for research on the interactions and exchanges of ancient cultures. The Guojiamiao Cemetery is situated in Zaoyang City, Hubei Province, China. It has undergone two protective excavations, one in 2004 and another in 2014. These excavations revealed that it is a large aristocratic cemetery of the Zeng State, dating from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the early Spring and Autumn periods. The jade artifacts found at this site are of various types and exquisite in style, serving as significant burial objects. In this study, we used gemology, spectroscopy, and geochemistry methods to analyze 30 excavated jade artifacts in detail. We studied the types of minerals, the characteristics of their shapes, and the major trace elements of the materials. Additionally, we investigated where the tremolite jade artifacts found in this cemetery came from. We used a classification method to categorize different sources of tremolite jade based on the combinations of trace and rare earth elements associated with various regions. The study revealed that the raw materials for the jade artifacts found in Guojiamiao Cemetery originate from the northwest region of China, with a focus on areas from eastern Xinjiang to northwestern Gansu. The findings shed light on the origins of jade materials utilized by the Zeng State during various historical periods and their connection with the Chu State. Additionally, this research helps in understanding the evolution of civilization in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.