• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.4-21
• /
• 2019

In this paper, 23 Silla gold earrings from the sixth and seventhand centuries, excavated from the Yeongnam region, were analyzed. Based on the silver content of the gold plate, they were classified into three types. The classifications included type I(20-50wt%), type II(10-20wt%) and type III (less than 10wt%). In the analysis process, the composition and morphological differences were identified on the surface of the gold plate. In the case of type I and II earrings, it was observed that the fine holes were concentrated in a relatively higher part of the gold content. The causes of the difference in the surface composition of the gold plate were divided into four categories: 1) surface treatment, 2) thermal diffusivity in the manufacturing process, 3) differences in composition of alluvial gold, and 4) the refining method of gold. It is possible that depletion gilding was attempted to increase the gold content while intentionally removing the other metals from the surface of the gold alloy in the portion where the gold deposit is relatively concentrated on the surface of the gold plating. The highest copper content was detected in the earring with the highest gold content of the analyzed earrings, and it was assumed that thermal diffusion had occurred between the gold plate and the metal rod during the manufacturing process rather than intentional addition. Copper was detected only in the thin ring earring type, and copper was not detected in the thick ring earring type or pendant type. It also proves that this earring has a high degree of tightness at higher temperatures, as there was an invisible edge finish on other earrings and horizontal wrinkles on the gold plate surface. In terms of the material of the gold plate, we examined whether the silver content of the gold plate was natural gold or added by alloy through analyzing the alluvial gold collected in the region. As a result of the analysis, it was found that on average about 13wt% of silver is included. This suggests that type II is natural gold, type III is refined gold, and type I seems to have been alloyed with natural gold. Here, we investigated the refining method introduced in the ancient literature, both at home and abroad, about the possibility of alloying silver after the refining process of type III earrings and then making pure gold. It was found that from ancient refining methods, silver which had been present in the natural gold was removed by reacting and combining with silver chloride or silver sulfide, and long-term efforts and techniques were required to obtain pure gold through this method. Therefore, it was concluded that the possibility of adding a small amount of silver in order to increase strength after making pure gold through a refining process is low.