DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT MINERAL MEDICINE IN THE LV FAMILY TOMB OF THE NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY ( 1 0 7 4 - 1111 CE)

摘要

Ranked as one of the top 10 national archaeological discoveries in China in 2010, the Lv family tomb complex is the most intact and well-preserved set of family tombs of the Northern Song dynasty excavated to date. Among the numerous exquisite artefacts recovered from the tomb was a sealed porcelain box containing residue. In this research, a multi-analytical approach combining field-emission scanning electron microscope energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry (FTIR) with attenuated total reflection (ATR), and thermogravimetry (TGA) was employed to characterize the residue. Calomel (Hg_2Cl_2) and calcined stalactite/stalagmite were identified, and they presumably served as a traditional Chinese medicine for curing ‘Jiaoqi’ disease which is often referenced in contemporary historical texts. This paper provides the first direct evidence for minerals being used for medical purposes in ancient China, and also proves its medical effect for relieving the symptoms of Lv Qianrong’s Jiaoqi disease. These findings further provide new clues for studying Chinese medical history.