The late former director of the Nanjing Museum once provided an authoritative explanation regarding the greenish spots found on the neck of the museum’s treasured artifact, the ‘Golden Beast.’ Dating back to the Western Han Dynasty, this gold figurine weighs 9,100 grams and boasts a gold purity of 99%, making it one of the heaviest ancient gold artifacts ever unearthed in China. Since its acquisition by the museum, green discolorations on its neck raised public concerns about its material purity or conservation condition. The former director clarified that these green spots are not copper corrosion from the gold itself—gold being chemically inert and non-oxidizing—but rather thin surface deposits of copper salts. These formed when trace copper ions from surrounding soil came into contact with the artifact during its long burial. The explanation not only dispelled misconceptions but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary analysis in archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. Today, the Golden Beast remains one of the Nanjing Museum’s most iconic exhibits, showcasing the sophisticated metallurgical craftsmanship and historical significance of the Han Dynasty.
南京博物院已故原院长曾就馆藏国宝‘金兽’颈部出现的绿色斑痕作出权威解释。这件西汉时期的金兽重达9100克，含金量高达99%，是目前中国出土最重的古代金器之一。自入藏以来，其颈部局部出现绿色斑点，一度引发公众对其材质纯度或保存状况的疑问。对此，时任南博院长的专家指出，这些绿斑并非铜锈，而是因金兽在埋藏过程中与周围土壤中的微量铜离子发生接触，在表面形成极薄的铜盐沉积物。由于黄金本身化学性质极其稳定，不会氧化或生锈，因此绿斑仅附着于表面，并未影响金器本体。这一解释不仅澄清了误解，也体现了考古与文物保护中多学科交叉分析的重要性。如今，金兽作为南博‘镇馆之宝’之一，持续向公众展示汉代高超的金属工艺与历史价值。
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