• Conservation Science in Museum
• /
• v.30
• /
• pp.89-100
• /
• 2023

Museum collections are comprised of a variety of materials, and different scientific examinations are being conducted according to the types and production properties of the materials, but insufficient research has been carried out on ultra-small artifacts. To identify the material characteristics of the white ultra-small materials excavated from Geumnyeongchong tomb, this study carried out a wide range of non-destructive analyses (specific gravity, microscopy, nano-computed tomography (Nano-CT), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy) and compared the said artifacts with the Goryeo-era burial accessories examined in prior research. Non-destructive analysis confirmed the presence of aragonite, which mainly consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) as the constituent mineral, and identified the material used for the ornaments as the gemstone pearl based on its growth lines. This study concludes that pearls began to be used in the ancient Korean Peninsula in the 6^th century. It is expected that scientific examinations of the white ultra-small artifacts will yield information about the social culture of the time.