• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.545-556
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• 2021

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the materialistic characteristics of 11 pieces of earthenware belonging to the Neolithic and Bronze Age excavated from Jeongseon Auraji, South Korea. As a result, the chemical composition of earthenwares belonging to the early Bronze Age was distributed in the intermediate area between the Neolithic and Bronze Age earthenwares, but no significant difference was confirmed based on their manufacturing period. Upon comparison, the earthenwares excavated from Jeongseon Auraji site were found to comprise less acidic components than those excavated from Yeongdong, and are characterized by the alkaline components depending on the excavated site. In the rare earth elements distribution pattern, all the analyzed earthenwares exhibited similar pattern, confirming that the raw materials present in the clay were the same. As a result of microstructure analysis, the clay particles and voids were found to be irregularly distributed in the analyzed earthenwares. Neolithic earthenwares exhibited many irregular voids, and an arrangement of aluminosilicate, including feldspar, was observed along with the clay substrate. Furthermore, we confirmed that the empty space in early Bronze Age earthenwares was filled with fine particles and cube crystals. Moreover, the main mineral phase of earthenwares excavated from Jeongseon Auraji exhibited similar composition, and therefore, there was no significant difference in the firing temperature of these earthenwares. The firing temperature of the earthenwares ranged from 750 to 850℃.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.25
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• pp.9-26
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• 2021

This paper describes the production methods that were originally used for an arrow bundle excavated from a Bronze Age residential area in Auraji in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do Province and the conservation treatment process that it subsequently underwent. An arrow conventionally consists of an arrowhead and a shaft. It is rare to excavate a shaft along with an arrowhead in a complete form since the shaft is made of organic materials. Notably, the arrow bundle from the Auraji site is of great significance as it shows traces of tangless stone arrowheads attached to charred shafts and offers an important case of the split end of a piece of a tree being inserted into an arrowhead. For a further examination of the characteristics of the arrows from Auraji, microscopic investigation was conducted and the type of wood used for the arrow shafts was examined. The sequence and direction of processing and the particle sizes of the grinding tools were revealed through the analysis of traces of grinding on the stone arrowheads. The shaft is presumed to have been made from a green length of three-year-old willow (Salix spp.). A curing agent with a high degree of waterproofing and reversibility was used during the on-site curing process according to demands of the surrounding environment, and a technique that the authors call the "Bridge" method was used for emergency collection of the relics. Once the bundle was transferred to the conservation treatment lab, reinforcing materials were carefully chosen as it was important not to damage the relics during the process of turning them for the repair of their reverse sides. For this purpose, artificial clay was selected since it can safely bear a load and has excellent physical properties. Finally, detached parts were rejoined, the relics and their surrounding materials were cleaned, and the bottom sides were finished with epoxy resin prior to the display of the relics at the museum.