Researchers studying bronze fish from ancient China have uncovered new evidence about how early Chinese societies used symbolic bronze objects in funeral rituals more than 2,500 years ago. The study also found that the metal used to make the objects may have traveled long distances across ancient China.
The research, led by Uroš Đorđević and published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, examined bronze fish excavated from the Weijiaya archaeological site in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. The artifacts date to the early Spring and Autumn period, which lasted from roughly 770 to 476 BCE.
Researchers used several scientific methods to study the objects, including metallographic analysis, chemical testing, and lead isotope analysis. The goal was to better understand how the bronze fish were made, where their materials came from, and how they were used in burial practices.
Ancient funeral symbols
Bronze fish held an important place in ancient Chinese burial traditions. Historical texts described them as symbols connected to the afterlife and funeral ceremonies. Archaeologists have discovered similar objects in tombs, chariot pits, and ritual sites dating back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
The new study focused on bronze fish recovered from two separate burial contexts at the Weijiaya site, identified as CMK1 and M4.
Ancient bronze fish found in China are revealing clues about 2,500-year-old funeral rituals and long-distance metal trade. Researchers say some were coffin ornaments, while others may have been linked to beliefs about the ancient underworld. pic.twitter.com/XARwqRkaWM
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) May 11, 2026
Researchers found that all the examined bronze fish were created using casting techniques rather than hammering or carving. The findings suggest that artisans followed a consistent manufacturing tradition during the period.
The analysis also showed that the objects were made from leaded tin bronze, a common alloy in ancient China. However, the chemical composition differed slightly between groups of artifacts. Researchers said this likely means the bronze fish were produced in different batches rather than all at once.
Long-distance metal trade
One of the study’s most important discoveries involved the origin of the metals used in the artifacts.
Trace element testing suggested that the copper used to create the bronze fish came from the same general source as bronze objects linked to Qin culture sites in the Baoji region. Those similarities point to shared supply networks or production traditions in early Qin territory.
Lead isotope analysis painted a more complex picture. Researchers found evidence that the lead used in the bronze may have originated from the Edong and Jiurui regions in the Yangtze River basin, hundreds of kilometers from the excavation site in Shaanxi Province.
The findings suggest that raw materials may have moved across large trade or political networks during the early Spring and Autumn period.
Researchers also identified differences between the lead sources used for artifacts from CMK1 and M4. That separation indicates that artisans likely relied on different lead ores during production.
Different roles in burial rituals
The study also revealed that the bronze fish may not all have served the same purpose.
Researchers concluded that the bronze fish from the M4 tomb were probably used as coffin ornaments. Similar objects have been found attached to burial coffins at other ancient Chinese sites.
The CMK1 bronze fish, however, may have played a more symbolic role in funeral ceremonies. Researchers linked them to beliefs surrounding the “Yellow Springs,” an ancient Chinese concept associated with the underworld and the afterlife.
The distinction suggests that bronze fish carried both decorative and spiritual meaning in early Chinese society.
Archaeologists say the findings provide a clearer picture of how ritual objects reflected social beliefs, regional traditions, and expanding trade connections during the pre-Qin era.
The study also highlights the growing role of scientific testing in archaeology. By combining chemical analysis with traditional excavation research, scientists can now trace the movement of metals, reconstruct manufacturing techniques, and better understand how ancient cultures expressed religious ideas through objects placed in tombs.
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