• 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.