MICROMORPHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HARDWOODS DETERIORATED IN THE SEA-WATER FROM WRECKED SHIP'S TIMER

수침목재의 재질분석에 관한 연구-미시형태적 변화를 중심으로

Micoromorphological alterations of sea-waterlogged woods by marinemicro-oragnisms were investigated by the light and scanning electron microscopy as a part of serial investigations on the shipwrecked materials which were excavated at the sea shore of Wando-Kun, southern coast of Korea in 1984.Deterioration of sea-waterlogged wood by marine microorganisms were varied with the wood species. The degree of deterioration even in the same wood specieswas different according to the part where it was in mud of sea-water. However, the resistance of Torreya nucifera over the marine organisms was marked. Deterioration in cell wall may be classified into three types; thinning of cell wall, separation of secondary wall from compound middle lamella and tunneling of cell wall. Thinning and separation were frequently observed, while the tunneling was rare. Among the wood cell elements of hardwoods, vessel wall was the least deteriorated. The difference degree of degradation of cell wall constituents and the accumulation of inorganic substances in cell lumen indicate that some factors to be considered for the conservation treatment were discussed. The kinds of marine microorganisms invading and/or inhabiting in wrecked wooden ship were also discussed.