Journal of Conservation Science (보존과학회지)

The Korean Society Of Conservation Science For Cultural Heritage (한국문화재보존과학회)
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Investigating the Iron-Making Process through the Scientific Analysis of By-products Obtained during Iron-Making from Songdu-ri Site in Jincheon, Korea

  • Jung, Da Yeon (Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National University) ;
  • Cho, Nam Chul (Department of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Kongju National University)
  • Received : 2022.01.05
  • Accepted : 2022.01.26
  • Published : 2022.02.20
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Abstract

The study, iron-making process was examined through the scientific analysis of six by-products that were obtained during iron making at the Songdu-ri site in Jincheon. The total Fe content of the slags excavated from the Songdu-ri site was 36.29-54.61 wt%, whereas the deoxidation agent was 26.48-49.08 wt%. The compound analysis result indicated that fayalite and wüstite are the main compounds in slag. Furthermore, the microstructure analysis result confirmed the presence of fayalite and wüstite in the slag. It can be inferred from the flat shape in a bright matrix structure of the hammer scales that forging was performed in the latter stage. The Raman micro-spectroscopy results confirmed that the surface was hematite (Fe2O4), middle layer was magnetite (Fe3O4), and inner layer was wüstite (FeO). The presence of smelting and smithing slags, spheroid hammer scales, and flake hammer scales suggests that at the Songdu-ri site, iron-making process is carried out by division of labor into producing iron bloom through direct smelting, refining and forge welding, and ingot production.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Protection Research Support Project among the basic research projects in science and engineering field of the Korea Research Foundation with funding from the government (Ministry of Education) in 2020 (NRF-2020R1I1A2072253).

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