Mining and metallurgy in Southwest China, 14th to 19th century: Archaeo-metallurgical investigations and historical geography

• Applicant: Dr. Nanny Kim
• Subject Area: History of Science
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 411083205

The proposed project will undertake the systematic archaeo-metallurgical survey, documentation and investigation of sites of metal mining in the Southwest of China, with the focus on the late imperial period (1368-1911). Through the exploration of the hitherto under-researched period and region, the applicants intend to provide basic research as well as conserve records, materials and sites for future research. Research results are expected to contribute to open issues in the history of mining in China in the transformation of metallurgical technologies and in traditions and innovations in a largely non-liturgical area of technological expertise.We know that the exploitation of metal deposits of copper, silver and other metals in Yunnan province and adjacent areas of Sichuan and Guizhou as well as in the borderland zone of China, Burma and Vietnam experienced an unprecedented expansion from the fourteenth century onwards, and again during the eighteenth century. However, as the mining sector in imperial China, especially during the late imperial period, is scarcely documented, many aspects remain unknown. We are still unable to locate numerous important mines known by name, while other sites have been found by accident but cannot be dated or identified. The intensification of mining evidently involved technological and organizational innovations, yet these transformations are still insufficiently understood.By employing inter-disciplinary approaches, the cooperative project will access new material records. For the identification of sites, we will employ historical geography on a wide range of data, especially focussing on clusters of place names. The localization will allow the partners to carry out targeted fieldwork for the recording of material remains and oral traditions as well as for sampling ores, slags and other remains. The Chinese partner will undertake material analyses on the samples, while the applicants will carry out GIS-bases analyses on the collected data. On the basis of these scientific data, the project will undertake the reconstruction of the historical transformation of mining and metallurgy in late imperial Southwestern China.The project’s four goals are: First, the comprehensive documentation of on-site remains and records for the preservation of cultural heritage and for future research. This aspect is of great urgency, as remains and traditions are presently vanishing.Second, the systematic and scientific reconstruction of metallurgical technologies. Third, a GIS-based analysis of technological traditions and innovations in the context of of local societies, inter-regional mobility, in-migration, written and oral knowledge, transport and commerce, natural environments and changing landscapes. Fourth, the analysis of technological innovation and traditions of expertise in the comparative context of different structures of transmitting and embodying knowledge in different regions and ages across human history.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Co-Investigator: Professorin Dr. Dagmar Schäfer
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Xiaocen Li