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http://dx.doi.org/10.12654/JCS.2021.37.6.11

Scientific Analysis and Conservation Treatment on the Buddhist Scriptures of Paper Relics Excavated from Sum Tolgoi, Mongolia  

Bae, Su Bin (Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Yang, Min Jeong (Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Kwon, Yun Mi (Conservation Science Division, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Yoo, Ji Hyun (Conservation Science Division, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Jeong, Hee Won (Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center, National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
Publication Information
Journal of Conservation Science / v.37, no.6, 2021 , pp. 723-737 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study analyzed the composition and structure of materials with Buddhist paper scriptures excavated from architectural sites in 'Sum Tolgoi' of the 17th century and carried out conservation treatment base on the result of the analysis. The scriptures were covered in dust and foreign sub stances, and were so crumpled that it was impossible to identify the form. The damage, loss, and discoloration have been identified. Buddhist scriptures written in Tibetan used indigo and ink sticks on paper as a result of UV-Vis analysis, and ink sticks as black character materials from scriptures written ancient Mongolian. SEM-EDS and Micro-XRF analyses revealed that the outlines were drawn with red lines using a mix of Minium (Pb3O4) and Cinnabar (HgS), or Cinnabar (HgS) alone, and the contents of the scriptures were written with silver paint. Silver chloride (AgCl) and Calcium (Ca) were identified in the silver paint component of the characters, while Calcium and Orpiment (As2S3) were identified in the yellow lines. Concerning the paper ground, Buddhist scriptures written in ancient Mongolian were characterized by herbal plant fiber and bast fiber, and those written in Tibetan, by bast fiber. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the paper for the scriptures was produced between the 15th and 17th centuries. Conservation treatment of the scriptures was carried out based on the experiment on the production of pre-coated paper and how to coat that to prevent the second damage due to the deformation and fragility of the excavated paper. The scriptures were preserved and mounted, and a neutral box was made to identify the contents of the scriptures recorded on both sides after the treatment. This conservation treatment is the result of a study that applied new conservation treatment materials and methods according to the principle of conservation treatment reversibility.
Keywords
Buddhist scriptures in Mongolia; Excavated paper relics; Micro X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer; UV/Visible Spectrophotometer; Standard AMS dating analysis; Pre-coated paper;
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