• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2010

A bronze dagger excavated from the historical site at Bongili in Gyeongju was examined for its microstructure and chemical compositions. The results show that it was forged out of the Cu-10 weight % Sn alloy having no lead. The application of forging in fabrication and the use of an unleaded alloy distinguish this artifact from other bronze daggers that have been reported in Korea, the majority of which were cast from leaded Cu-Sn alloys. This dagger is a rare and valuable archaeological material suggesting a unique bronze technology practiced in ancient Gyeongju area.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2015

Bronzes, Earthenwares and various artifacts were excavated from Pungnap earthen fortress in the early Baekje age in Korea. This study was performed in order to identify the manufacture technology of bronze artefacts and provenance of lead in bronzes. Microstructure and chemical composition results show that 3 of them are Cu-Sn-Pb alloys in which an intentional lead addition was carried out and one is tin bronze showing straight twin structure within crystal grains. Also $CuFeS_2$ or $Cu_5FeS_4$ was used as raw materials through the detection of S and Fe as trace elements. The lead isotope results could be matched with one of the zones of southern Korea and China on the East Asian map. This results shows that data were plotted either in zone 2 or zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. However, one of bronze artifacts was matched with the zone of Northern China.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.12
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

This study presents an investigation into the conservation process of an iron dagger and scabbard, which are a lacquered scabbard and a dagger inserted in it, excavated in the Daho-ri relic of Changwon by Gimhae National Museum. The bronze dagger whose condition was poor due to corrosion was coated with Incralac, an intensifier, to reveal the surface patterns through a microscope. The lacquered scabbard was removed of foreign substances on the surface and coated with HPC 2%(in water) to protect the film. Applied onto the surface from which foreign substances were removed was Caparol Binder 5%(in water) two to three times to form a protective film and then faced with Korean paper. Once it was fixed in a polyurethane foam in a stable manner, it was turned over to receive the same process on the back. Three layers of Korean paper were attached to the back of the scabbard to support the thin artifact. HPC 2%(in water), which was applied to the scabbard, was also applied to the iron dagger inside for cementing effect. After all the processes were completed, the artifact was put in a transparent acrylic box for future display.