Testing the New World: early modern chemistry and mineral prospection at colonial Jamestown, 1607-1610
Testing the New World: early modern chemistry and mineral prospection at colonial Jamestown, 1607-1610
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测试新世界：殖民地詹姆斯敦的早期现代化学和矿产勘探，1607-1610 年
DOI：
10.1007/s12520-019-00945-x
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发表时间：
2019
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Veronesi U
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Veronesi U
本文介绍了新的研究组合冶金坩埚用于分析矿物在殖民地詹姆斯敦。这项研究的目的是探索在美国第一个英国永久定居点进行的化学操作的范围，在文件中对此知之甚少。结果表明，殖民者使用优质黑森坩埚对不同类型的复杂多金属硫化物进行了测试。这样做的目的是（1）前景寻找潜在的银和铜矿石，（2）寻找合适的锌和锡来源，通过与进口的铜废料进行胶结，将其合金化成黄铜和青铜。这项研究对早期化学和矿产勘探考古学以及新大陆早期欧洲殖民地考古学这一日益发展的领域做出了相关贡献。特别是，物质文化可以揭示欧洲定居者如何应对新的和不熟悉的自然环境的许多挑战，以及他们如何试图理解和利用它来获得经济利益。
The paper presents new research on an assemblage of metallurgical crucibles used in the assay of minerals at colonial Jamestown. The aim of the study is to explore the range of chemical operations carried out at the site of the first permanent British settlement in America, for which little is known in the documents. The results show that the colonists used high-quality Hessian crucibles to perform tests on different types of complex polymetallic sulphides. This was done to (1) prospect for potential silver and copper ores and (2) to find suitable sources of zinc and tin to be alloyed into brass and bronze through cementation with imported copper offcuts. This study makes a relevant contribution to the growing field of the archaeology of early chemistry and mineral prospection as well as the archaeology of early European colonies in the New World. In particular, material culture can shed fresh light on how European settlers reacted to the many challenges of a new and unfamiliar natural environment and how they tried to make sense and exploit it for financial profit.