Analysis and Cultural Connotation of the Stone-Jeweled Bronze Buckle from the Ancient Dian State in the Yunnan Provincial Museum

The Yunnan Provincial Museum has collected typical artifacts unearthed from tombs dating back to the "ancient Dian State" period. In particular, bronzes inlaid with gold and jade have attracted much attention for their shape, materials, techniques, aesthetics and cultural functions. Stone-jeweled bronze buckles with unique styles and exquisite craftmanship have become one of the most distinctive objects in this period. This study identifies the composition of green inlay fragments detached from a circular bronze buckle from Shizhaishan Tomb M13∶62 by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (LA-ICP-OES) and documents surface micro-features by super-depth-of-field microscopy. The results demonstrate that the inlay material is libethenite Cu₂(PO₄)(OH), a copper phosphate hydroxide previously misidentified as turquoise or malachite. Through technological archaeology, we can restore the Mosaic process, assess the technical level of metal refining technology at that time, and conduct a detailed cultural interaction through the material's source, development, and evolution. The technological, aesthetic, and cultural implications of these findings are discussed, emphasizing the role of stone-jeweled buckles as elite insignia. This research underscores the importance of scientific analysis in correcting visually based misidentifications and contributes to the archaeogeographical study of early gem utilization in southwestern China.