Provenance study of Tang-dynasty black-glazed porcelains unearthed at the Yingou site

This study investigates the provenance of Tang-dynasty black-glazed porcelain excavated from the Yingou site in Fuping, Shaanxi, through comparative analysis with authenticated Tang-dynasty Yaozhou kiln samples. A multi-analytical approach combining EDXRF, ICP–MS, XRD, SEM–EDS and Raman spectroscopy reveals that the Yingou samples exhibit minimal internal variability and share the high-alumina, low-silica signature characteristic of northern porcelains. Their glaze compositions, microstructural features, and diffusion behaviors closely match those of the Yaozhou samples. Major, trace, and rare-earth-element patterns show substantial overlap, with no meaningful compositional separation. The results show that Tang-dynasty black-glazed porcelains from the Yingou site exhibit strong compositional and technological consistency with Yaozhou black-glazed wares. This similarity supports production within a shared raw-material and technological framework, likely reflecting a common geological resource base or closely connected production systems, while acknowledging that finer-scale attribution requires broader comparative datasets.