Preliminary Study on the Provenance of Materials and Styles of Mico-Carved Animal-Shaped Ornaments from the Han to Jin Dynasties Unearthed in Hunan Province, China

Micro-carved ornaments, emerging in the later period of the Western Han Dynasty, are characterized by their small size and diverse materials. These ornaments depict a range of animals, plants, and auspicious symbols. In contrast to the simpler forms of tubes and beads, these intricate micro-carved ornaments exhibit superior craftsmanship, boasting a more refined aesthetic and symbolic significance in auspicious worship. However, systematic research on this type of ornament is still inadequate. This article compiles and presents a collection of animal-shaped micro-carved ornaments unearthed from Hunan, dating from Han to Jin dynasties. Some samples were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scientific analysis has shown that a few ornaments may have been directly imported along the ancient Silk Road, while others seem to have been locally crafted from exotic materials. It is also possible that certain ornaments were made with traditional materials like nephrite, reflecting traditional Chinese aesthetics. Notably, the forms of conch, beetle, and blue-glazed quartz lion are particularly distinctive. These animal-shaped micro-carved ornaments, drawing from the reverence for nature and the local aesthetic tradition of animal-shaped jade artifacts pre-dating the Han Dynasty, assimilated foreign aesthetic trends and material usage, manifesting the assimilation and mastery of processing techniques. This embodiment reflects the integration and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. The discovery of these ornaments in Hunan underscores the region's crucial role in cross-regional cultural and material exchange.