Archaeological Investigation and Industrial Heritage Study of the Wanshan Mercury Mining Site in Guizhou Province, China

Mercury is the only natural liquid non-ferrous metal that occurs under normal temperature. Cinnabar, also known as Chensha 辰砂 and Dansha 丹砂 in ancient China, is a natural ore of mercury sulphide that exists in mercury mines and is the most common source ore for refining elementary mercury. The largest cinnabar deposit in China is at the Wanshan mercury mine in Wanshan Town, Guizhou Province, which was an important centre for the mercury production industry since the Tang Dynasty (AD 618–907). An archaeological field survey of the area identified 36 locations related to cinnabar mining and mercury production spanning the period from the Tang and Song Dynasties (AD 960–1279) to the late 20th century. This survey was the first comprehensive archaeological investigation and exploratory research of these materials, and provides a fresh insight into the evolution of the Wanshan mercury mine and its secondary development as a unique industrial heritage site.