• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.4-17
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• 2017

In this research, the chemical composition of the iron artifacts from the late 6th-century to early 7thcentury Baekje remains in Gwanbuk-ri, Buyeo, specifically of the nine iron artifacts including slags, furnace walls and ingot iron excavated in the District "Na", were examined by observing their chemical compounds and microstructures. As a result, GB1 and GB6 were determined to be proto-reduction lumps whereas GB2, GB3, GB4 and GB5 were determined to be tempered slags, respectively. Also, he furnace wall GB7 were containing mullite and cristobalite, which are high temperature index minerals, The extrusion temperature was found out to be about $1200{\sim}1300^{\circ}C$, and it is most likely that the smelting temperature in the furnace was in that temperature range. GB8 ingot iron was determined to be a forged ironware. This ingot iron was an intermediary product for making ironware and its nonmetallic inclusions displayed similar microstructure and contents compared to the forged iron. Because of the existence of proto-reduction lumps and forged iron, the iron making facility located in District "Na" most likely had a small-scale iron making facility that handled iron bloom smelting and refining processes.