• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.4-21
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• 2021

A stone mold from the Sabi period of Baekje was excavated at the western tombs in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo where there was a recent excavation survey (2016). It was believed and reported that such stone molds were used for copper needles during the early Iron Age; however, a close re-examination of the form revealed that they were used for bifid ornamental hairpins. Given its casting form, the stone mold of Neungsan-ri is estimated to have been used to make bifid ornamental hairpins in a ∩ shape, narrowing down toward the tip. It is considered an artifact of the Goryeo dynasty. The stone used to make the bifid ornamental hairpin mold of Neungsan-ri was chlorite-schist, the principal minerals of which include chlorite, amphibole, and talc. Similar rocks are in nearby Buyeo (Oesan-myeon), Cheongyang, Gongju, and Yesan. They are mainly found between Jiseon-ri, Oesan-myeon, Buyeo, Sucheol-ri, Yesane-up, and Yesan. Nearly 70 bifid ornamental hairpins from the Goryeo dynasty were excavated at Neungsan-ri, Buyeo and the surrounding areas. Among them, the bronze ones excavated from the tombs of Songguk-ri, Buyeo are estimated to have been made using this mold as they closely resemble the Neungsan-ri mold. Stone was likely the preferred material for molds to make bronze artifacts as it was easy to sink a die. Regarding the bifid ornamental hairpin cast excavated in Neungsan-ri, they obtained stones in nearby areas 20~50km from their location, made bronze artifacts, and distributed them to nearby sites during the Goryeo dynasty. These artifacts suggest that the casting technology of using a stone mold was still employed then.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.22
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• pp.41-52
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• 2019

Inner walls of the stone chamber of West Ancient Tomb No. 1 and 2 in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo-gun have been inspected for possible trace of murals. Tomb No.1 has a rough surface finish of the stone wall and no traces of murals was observed in any part of the stone walls except the ceiling part of the main chamber. On the ceiling surface, there is black colored area, which showed same visual characteristics for both the surface and interior upon slight scratch of the surface, suggesting that it may not be a painted layer. In addition, this black material is not artificial stuff like black ink but is confirmed as biotite from X-ray diffraction analysis that is one of the constituents of the stone wall. In case of tomb No. 2, white material, that is confirmed as lime(calcite, CaCO3) by X-ray diffraction analysis, was observed on the wall surface of the east, west and north, suggesting possible existence of murals. The lime layers, however, are located mostly on the entrance of east wall of main chamber and the place of passage whereas they are observed only in lower parts on the other walls. It may have been formed by the inflow of soil and lime from the outside as the form of the lime layer in the east wall corresponds to the traces of soil and lime deposited from the thief pit. Furthermore, the filling material found in the gap between the stone slabs of the four directions and the ceiling was confirmed as clay soil, which is different material from the lime present on the stone wall surface. If the lime layer had been artificially constructed for the purpose of creating murals, it would have been more reasonable to use lime as well in the gap between the stone slabs of the four directions and ceiling. In this regard, we conclude that there are no murals in the Tomb No. 2 in the Neungsan-ri.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2021

In this study, the research objects are gilt plated silver-iron nails excavated from the west of the tombs in Neungsan-ri, Buyeo. A gilt plated silver-iron nail was fabricated by combining silver and iron via heating and then gilding amalgam on top of this combination, demonstrating that this ancient artifact that can be replicated using current technology. Since the metal (Au, Ag) surface of these gilt plated artifacts are covered with iron oxide, which slips into the cracks and scratches of the artifacts as well, desalination is essential. Based on the results of the preliminary experiment, the research objects were classified into grades A, B, and C, according to the degree of corrosion and then desalinated using an alkali solution (NaOH, Sodium Sesquicarbonate of 0.1 M) at 60℃. The results demonstrate that the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the more is the amount of Cl^- detected. Further, more Cl^- was released when NaOH was used than when sodium sesquicarbonate was used, for all grades except Grade A. Furthermore, the more serious is the degree of corrosion, the longer is the desalination period and the reaction with NaOH for all grades except Grade A. A comparison of the Fe composition of the surface before and after desalination shows that Fe composition is the use of NaOH resulted in a smaller increase compared with the use of sodium sesquicarbonate, for all grades except Grade B. However, four of the nails were damaged owing to NaOH (Grade B 3ea, Grade C 1ea) during desalination. Thus, Cl^- ions are more stably released when sodium sesquicarbonate is used than when NaOH is used.