• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.31
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• pp.71-103
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• 2024

The National Museum of Korea Conservation science division conducted a precise diagnosis and a non-destructive investigation to comprehensively assess the overall damage of the Twin-lion stone lantern from the Godalsa Temple site, Yeoju to be placed on display in the museum's outdoor stone garden, then reviewed the relevant conservation and management plan and applied conservation treatment to the artifact. The museum carried out the treatment in the following order: precise diagnosis; dismantling of the previously-restored part of the roof stone; reinforcement and restoration of the roof structure with new stone; restoration of the previously-restored part of the lantern's support stone (jungseok); surface texture treatment to the restored area; cleaning (basic, laser); and color matching. The previously-restored part of the roof stone was removed and restored with new stone material, based on the results of a safety diagnosis regarding the separation at the said part. Granite from the Sangju area was selected as the material for the restoration in consideration of the results of mineral analysis as well as the surface color and particle size. The new stone was divided into three pieces based on the descending edges of the octagonal roof structure and joined together using epoxy resin. The structure was further strengthened by inserting titanium rods. It is expected that the status diagnosis and conservation treatment of the twin-lion stone lantern from the Godalsa Temple site in Yeoju will be used as a reference for the future conservation and management of outdoor displays of stone cultural heritage.