• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.150-167
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to share the status and introduce a scientific analysis of the GeumguJagi (gilt-silver overlay porcelain, 金釦瓷器) excavated from Seongneung (石陵). This analysis aimed to highlight the GeumguJagi excavated from the Royal Tombs of Goryeo with a clear lower year (1237) and to aid research into the GeumguJagi. In 2001, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage excavated and investigated Seongneung in Heejong (熙宗). Various artifacts such as celadon, gold, bronze, and iron products were collected from the chambers inside of the tomb. There were a total of 160 celadon items including bowls, dishes, glasses, and saucers. Of those, there were 58 celadon items (including fragments) with metal frames on the openings. These consisted of bowls, plates, lids, and saucers. Until recently, in various exhibitions and papers, only one GeumguJagi was known to have been excavated from Seongneung, which was a . However, the survey identified a number of further GeumguJagis. It had been understood from inherited and excavated products that the materials used for ornaments were restricted to high-quality celadon. However, this study confirmed that the excavation of Seongneung demonstrated the use of various other materials for different models and qualities of GeumguJagis. It can be said that it is characteristic that various models and quality are confirmed together through the excavation of Seongneung. A scientific analysis was carried out that selected 12 of 58 products excavated from Seongneung. Results showed that the main component used for Geumgu ornaments was tin (Sn), and trace amounts of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) were also commonly identified. When analyzing the material used to affix the metal fittings, this was found to be glue (膠) made from animal skins, muscle, and bones. This pattern matches that of the GeumguJagi excavated from Paju Hyeeumwonji, and the reason for this could be assumed on the basis of the contents of the 『Cheongonggaemul (天工開物)』 written by Song Ongsung (宋應星) during the Ming Dynasty. At that time, metals such as tin and copper would have been difficult to obtain. 『Xuānhwafengshi Gaolitujing (宣和奉使高麗圖經)』 shows that the use of metal was limited to certain classes; thus, the use of the GeumguJagi seems to have been centered around the royal family.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.6-22
• /
• 2024

This paper examines the characteristics of wooden wells from the Three Kingdoms period that were discovered in the Yeongsan River basin, in addition to their functions based on the distribution of the remains and excavated artifacts found near the wells. A total of 11 wooden wells have been found at six archeological sites along the middle and upper reaches of the Yeongsan River basin. These wooden wells were built in a wider variety of forms than wells made of other materials due to the ease of processing resulting from the physical properties of wood. However, due to the limited geological conditions in which these wells can be installed and their rapid decay, the discovery of such wells is rare. They tend to be located in the clay and mud layers of old river channels or near river channels where it was relatively easy to obtain water from the riverbed. The wooden wells are mostly square or rectangular in shape and were assembled transversely, and some include support beams in their construction. The backfill was reinforced with either stone, a mixture of stone and clay, or a mixture of clay and pottery shards. The material mainly used was pine wood boards, with wood from chestnut trees being used as a sub-material. Various artifacts, such as pottery and wooden containers, animal bones, and seeds, have been excavated in small quantities. The excavated pottery items consist mostly of flat cups with a cover, mounted cups, pottery stands, wide-mouthed jars with a hole, and round pottery. Based on the environment and remains of the sites, the wells are thought to have been used for domestic and production purposes. The assumed primary function was to obtain domestic water, as most of the wells were located within residential spaces where the area's inhabitants lived. The wells were also used to obtain water for agricultural purposes, as well as for productive purposes such as for operating kilns and smelters. Lastly, the wooden wells were also found to be strongly associated with rites, as evidenced by the artifacts found inside them.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.175-184
• /
• 2012

A purpose of this research is to find out characteristic of bronze artifacts and gold ornaments excavated from Xiongnu tombs No. 2~4 at Duurlig Nars in Mongolia through scientific analysis of them. The Tombs are comparatively small. There were still lots of relics remaining although the tombs had been already robbed. Also the tombs are evaluated important since the origin of them show coexisting of chinese and northern style. First of all, an analysis result about bronze vessels found in this site, they have high lead(Pb) content and relatively low tin(Sn) content, as compared with the Bronze Han Mirror and End-fittings of Bronze Parasol Rib. Especially in case of bronze tray and bronze lamp from the no. 2 tomb and also bronze cauldron from the no. 4 tomb contain only 1wt% of tin which means binary alloy composition(Cu-Pb). Also, in the case of gold ornaments found in the no. 2 tomb, they have comparatively high purity. And the research suppose that the high possibility of that they were used soldering using alloy of Au-Cu or diffused bonding(using malachite and copper oxide) for joining gold grains of gold granulation ornament. Further scientific research and analysis in Mongolia and other countries will provide more clues to solve mystery of Xiongnu culture.

• 보존과학연구
• /
• s.27
• /
• pp.5-22
• /
• 2006

Mireuksa is a temple that was established in the Baekjea Period and continued around to the 16thcentury. The sites of the temple throughout diverse periods such as the United Shilla Period, KoryuPeriod, and Chosun Period including the one of the early temple in the late Baekjea Period were discovered. In those temple sites, there were lots of diverse artifacts discovered including artifacts in the Bronze Age. In this study, the compositions of four bronze bells excavated from Mireuksa site in Iksan were analyzed and the manufacturing technique of bronze bells was studied through the observation of microstructure. Also, the analytical cases of ancient bronze bells were collected and compared. Furthermore, the provenance study of the bronze bells site was attempted with the Pbisotope ratio. The results aim to offer crucial keys for discovering the aspect of society as well as information about the origin, development, and the route of propagation of ancient technologies. Bronze bell No. 1 showed an unexpected composition as Cu was found 98.5% in it. There were shown twins which were created by annealing and an even phase in the fine grains. It was also shown that bronze bell No. 2 and 4 had a high content of Pb although they showed a similar composition with general bronze bells in terms of Sn content. As shown in the analysis characteristics table of Korean bronze bell of this study, the ancient bronze bell used Pb of which content was limited to 2.12% in general, however, the results showed 15.5% and 13.2% respectively, which is an excessive amount. Asa result of analyzing inclusion in the microstructure of bronze bell No. 2, it was found that sulfide group mineral was used since there appeared S(14.55%). Also, it was proven that $CuFeS_2$ or$Cu_5FeS_4$ was used as a raw material because there was a small amount of Fe. As a result of analyzing inclusion of bronze bell No. 4, the bronze bell sample contained S(13.43%) and it is thought that sulfide group mineral was used, however, it had no Fe. Therefore, it is not connected to $CuFeS_2$ which is the main mineral of Korea. In addition, a strain line was shown with processing in bronze bell No. 2 and 4. As a result of provenance study of bronze bell No. 2 and 4 using the Pb isotope ratio, they or their raw materials are estimated to come from the southern China. Bronze bell No. 3 showed only Cu and Sn, and it is featured with a relatively low amount of Sn(6.63%). The microstructure has only phase, andintergranular corrosion was highly in progress.

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

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.37
• /
• pp.267-284
• /
• 2004

As an initial step to understand the transitions in Korean bronze technology the present study has examined metallurgical microstructures of 8 artifacts excavated from the Silla Wang-Gyong site in Kyongju. Important trends have been found in alloy compositions and also in manufacturing processes. In the design of alloys, the Sn content was apparently changing toward the peritectic point, 22 mass %, of the Cu-Sn phase diagram while the Pb addition was intentionally avoided. This trend in composition was found accompanied by the introduction, subsequent to casting, of such special thermo-mechanical treatments as quenching and forging in artifact manufacture. In addition, the Sn content in alloys containing a significant amount of As was relatively low and no evidence of forging was observed in them. The use of quenching and forging and the rejection of Pb and As from alloys are all necessary requirements if the brittle nature of high Sn alloys is to be overcome in bronze working. This paper will show that the Wang-Gyong era corresponds to that of innovations leading to the technical climax in Korean bronze tradition, which has been maintained up to the present.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.411-420
• /
• 2009

A series of scientific analyses, including ICP-AES, microstructure, and TIMS, were carried out on 5 bronze spoons among 14 bronze artifacts excavated from the Ok-dong site in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The results of analysis showed that the bronze spoons were formed from an alloy of no more than 75% Cu and 21~23% Sn, placing it in the category of brassware, with trace elements such as Pb, Fe, and Zn. In particular, plumbum Pb contents of which traces of 0.04% were found, appears to have been added as an impurity during smelting. The microstructure of the bronze spoons suggests that the casting process involved using a spoon-shaped hollow mold, followed by an ropid-cooling process after the shape was perfected at approximately $586^{\circ}C$. After comparison of data measured from thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) of galena from Korea, China, and Japan, it appears that the raw materials for the bronze spoons included galena (lead sulfide) produced from the southern part of China.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2009

The manufacture date of the number 198 wooden tablet excavated at Anapji is estimated to be between year 751 and 774. As medical artifacts around this period of time is scarce, the discovery of an artifact with distinct medical information such as names of medicinal drugs recorded in hand writing holds great value in the history of medicine. This wooden tablet was presumably a prescription for a medicinal formula. That the '灸' character which is a method of processing drugs is found after '甘草' indicates the possibility of this wooden tablet to be a practical form of prescription. On this slip, a certain sign can be found at the upper right corner of the names of drugs. This is thought to be an additional sign added to the original text. It seems to have been originated from the letter '了', based on the composition and finishing touches of the strokes, presumably to confirm the end of a work by adding the letter '了' which means 'to finish'. The base material of 靑黛 and 藍淀 are the same, and the two often took each other's place in a prescription. It is difficult to find an example of a formula where both drugs are included. Therefore, the prescription on the front with 靑黛, and the one on the back with 藍淀 of tablet 198 can be understood as separate formulas.

• Conservation Science in Museum
• /
• v.18
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2017

This study investigated the techniques applied in the manufacturing of the horse trappings with jewel beetle adornment excavated from Geumgwanchong Tomb, with a focus on the use of jewel beetle wings. It is revealed that the wings of jewel beetles were stripped of their upper skeletal parts and applied as ornamentation under the gilt-bronze openwork plate, and no additional process was applied to improve adhesion. The horse trappings from Geumgwanchong Tomb include saddles, stirrups, horse strap pendants, and bamboo mudguards, but most of the components except the stirrups are failing or lost, making it difficult to identify the manufacturing techniques. The techniques used to affix the jewel beetle wings vary depending on the support materials. Small chisels were used to fix the jewel beetle wings to the stirrups and saddle made of wooden supports. In the case of the bamboo mudguards and metal artifacts, the wings were fixed with lacquer and then combined with the gilt-bronze openwork plate using pressure.

• Conservation Science in Museum
• /
• v.11
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2010

Conservation re-treatment of dagger and scabbard in Gyeongju National Museum, which were excavated from Gyerim-ro Tomb No. 14 (Treasure No. 635) was carried out after a wide-scale dissembling in order for publishing a report and holding a special exhibition. The interior shape of the iron dagger which was disclosed by ornament plates was confirmed by X-ray investigation. The results of XRF analysis which was used to analyse compositions of the golden ornament plates reveal that having more than 3% of copper distinguishes it from other Silla gold artifacts. The conservation treatment progressed in a way that surface contaminants were removed and insecure areas were consolidated. The original shape of the iron dagger and scabbard was found after adhering and restoration. With the ornament plates staying on the iron dagger, a stand in acrylic for display and storage was made, which is able to place the dagger and scabbard in the safest way.