%0 Book Section %T Ritual or lethal? Bronze weapons in late Shang China %A Cao, Qin %C London %D 2018 %8 2019-01-08 %E Dolfini, A; Crellin, R; Horn, C; Uckelmann, E; %I Springer, Cham %P 225-245 %@ 9783319788272 %U https://www.nms.ac.uk/collections-research/collections-departments/world-cultures/dr-qin-cao/; https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/things-to-see-and-do/new-ancient-egypt-and-east-asia-galleries/ %X Large-scale bronze production is one of the most salient features of late Shang China (c.1200–1050 BC). Copper-alloy weapons were cast in extraordinary quantities and varieties as shown by the rich burial assemblages known from the period. However, their practical usages are not yet well-understood, and scholars speculate whether the weapons were functional implements or symbolic/prestige items. The chapter discusses the first wear analysis ever undertaken on Chinese Shang weaponry. The analysis has revealed a number of marks, which shed light on the manufacturing process, use, deposition and post-recovery alterations of the weapons. It has also challenged traditional typological classification of Shang weapons and argues for a holistic approach to weapon studies in Chinese archaeology. %[ 2024-03-28 %9 Book chapter %~ Hyku %W National Museums Scotland