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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Mysterious ancient chemical formulae are decoded at last

Studies of Chinese coins reveal the composition of Jin and Xi — and hint at unexpected complexity in metallurgy.
Knife coins used in China around 400 BC on a black background

The composition of knife coins used in China during the Warring States period (475-221 BC) helped scientists to decipher bronze-making recipes in an ancient technical encyclopedia. Credit: British Museum

Researchers might have cracked an ancient Chinese formula for making bronze1.

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Nature 608, 452 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-02130-y

References

  1. Pollard, A. M. & Liu, R. Antiquity https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2022.81 (2022).

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