In situ analysis of stratified glass eye beads from the tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State in Hubei Province,China using XRF and micro‐Raman spectrometry

A total of 46 stratified glass eye beads in Hubei Provincial Museum, Wuhan, China were analyzed in situ by means of portable X‐ray fluorescence and Raman spectrometers. These beads were excavated from the famous tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State, which was dated back to the early Warring States Period (433 bc or little late), in Hubei Province. It is determined that most of these elegant glass beads belong to the typical soda‐lime‐silicate glasses with low contents of MgO and K₂O. The colorants used within these beads are attributed to two types: antimony‐based compound opacifiers/colorants and the transition metals in their oxidized state such as Co, Cu, and Fe ions. According to their characteristics of typology, chemical composition, and micro‐crystals within samples, we classified them into three subtypes and evaluated the possible relations among them. In addition, through comparing with the similar contemporary samples unearthed from Xu Jialing Tomb (5th–4th century bc ) in Henan Province, we discussed the provenance of these stratified glass eye beads and relative issues briefly. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.