• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.222-241
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• 2020

The Taereung Royal Tomb from the Joseon Dynasty is the tomb of Empress Munjeong, the second queen of King Jungjong, and it contains various types of stone artifacts. All of these stone artifacts were constructed using coarse- to medium-grained biotite granite. The major types of deterioration of the stone artifacts are identified as surface weathering and biological contaminants. Exfoliation (145 sculptures), granular decomposition (138 sculptures), and repair materials (156 sculptures), along with biological contaminant algae (154 sculptures), lichen (165 sculptures) and moss (97 sculptures), have a high occurrence frequency. In particular, it is deemed that immediate conservation treatment is required, as biological deterioration (algae) represents the most serious condition (grade 3 or higher in 94% of all stones), and it is thought that exfoliation and granulation decomposition are required for long-term conservation management. As a result of equo -tip hardness and ultrasonic measurement, more than 70% of stones were found to have very weak physical properties. Through hyperspectral analysis, organisms were shown to inhabit more than 80% of the surface of burial mound stone artifacts, and P (phosphorus), S (sulfur), Cl (chlorine), and Ca (calcium) were detected in this area. This is because Taereung Royal Tomb has been exposed to the outdoors for hundreds of years and has been weathered by physical, chemical, and biological factors. Therefore, among the stone artifacts in the Taereung Royal Tomb, those with high physical weathering grades are considered to require consolidation to reinforce them physically. Since organisms are highly likely to cause stone damage, they must be removed via dry and wet cleaning. In addition, in order to delay the reoccurrence of organisms following conservation treatment, it is necessary to regularly clean up the soil that has flowed into the burial mound, and to monitor conservation conditions over the long term.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2001.05b
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• pp.42-63
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• 2001

The detail survey on the Songsanri tomb site including the Muryong royal tomb was carried out during the period from May 1 , 1996 to April 30, 1997. A quantitative analysis was tried to find changes of tomb itself since the excavation. Main subjects of the survey are to find out the cause of infiltration of rain water and groundwater into the tomb and the tomb site, monitoring of the movement of tomb structure and safety, removal method of the algae inside the tomb, and air controlling system to solve high humidity condition and dew inside the tomb. For these purposes, detail survery inside and outside the tombs using a electronic distance meter and small airplane, monitoring of temperature and humidity, geophysical exploration including electrical resistivity, geomagnetic, gravity and georadar methods, drilling, measurement of physical and chemical properties of drill core and measurement of groundwater permeability were conducted. We found that the center of the subsurface tomb and the center of soil mound on ground are different 4.5 meter and 5 meter for the 5th tomb and 7th tomb, respectively. The fact has caused unequal stress on the tomb structure. In the 7th tomb (the Muryong royal tomb), 435 bricks were broken out of 6025 bricks in 1972, but 1072 bricks are broken in 1996. The break rate has been increased about 250% for just 24 years. The break rate increased about 290% in the 6th tomb. The situation in 1996 is the result for just 24 years while the situation in 1972 was the result for about 1450 years. Status of breaking of bircks represents that a severe problem is undergoing. The eastern wall of the Muryong royal tomb is moving toward inside the tomb with the rate of 2.95 mm/myr in rainy season and 1.52 mm/myr in dry season. The frontal wall shows biggest movement in the 7th tomb having a rate of 2.05 mm/myr toward the passage way. The 6th tomb shows biggest movement among the three tombs having the rate of 7.44mm/myr and 3.61mm/myr toward east for the high break rate of bricks in the 6th tomb. Georadar section of the shallow soil layer represents several faults in the top soil layer of the 5th tomb and 7th tomb. Raninwater flew through faults tnto the tomb and nearby ground and high water content in nearby ground resulted in low resistance and high humidity inside tombs. High humidity inside tomb made a good condition for algae living with high temperature and moderate light source. The 6th tomb is most severe situation and the 7th tomb is the second in terms of algae living. Artificial change of the tomb environment since the excavation, infiltration of rain water and groundwater into the tombsite and bad drainage system had resulted in dangerous status for the tomb structure. Main cause for many problems including breaking of bricks, movement of tomb walls and algae living is infiltration of rainwater and groundwater into the tomb site. Therefore, protection of the tomb site from high water content should be carried out at first. Waterproofing method includes a cover system over the tomvsith using geotextile, clay layer and geomembrane and a deep trench which is 2 meter down to the base of the 5th tomb at the north of the tomv site. Decrease and balancing of soil weight above the tomb are also needed for the sfety of tomb structures. For the algae living inside tombs, we recommend to spray K101 which developed in this study on the surface of wall and then, exposure to ultraviolet light sources for 24 hours. Air controlling system should be changed to a constant temperature and humidity system for the 6th tomb and the 7th tomb. It seems to much better to place the system at frontal room and to ciculate cold air inside tombs to solve dew problem. Above mentioned preservation methods are suggested to give least changes to tomb site and to solve the most fundmental problems. Repairing should be planned in order and some special cares are needed for the safety of tombs in reparing work. Finally, a monitoring system measuring tilting of tomb walls, water content, groundwater level, temperature and humidity is required to monitor and to evaluate the repairing work.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2019

The Royal Tombs at Songsanri is one of the most important historic site for ancient historical study in Korean Peninsula. Since the excavation of the tombs, continuous exposure to the outside environment and the negative effects of the artificial air conditioning system have caused significant threats to the thermal environment stability of the tombs. Unlike the outside temperature that shows significant differences according to seasonal changes, the burial chamber of the tombs had a relatively stable temperature range of 11.4 to $22.2^{\circ}C$ throughout the year, and the standard deviation of temperature was within 3.5. It was revealed that major factors affecting the microclimate of the tombs were inflow of outdoor air, wind direction and speed, and all of them had closely related to airtightness of the tombs. The solar radiation was in inverse proportion to the thickness of burial mounds, and thus Royal Tomb of King Muryeong, which has the thickest burial mound, was least affected by solar radiation. Especially, microclimate of the tombs caused to the highest influence with artificial environmental changes due to access by people, which varied in proportion to the number of accessed people and time of stay. Currently, the inside of the tombs are sealed and always in saturated condition, it is very vulnerable to dew condensation. As a result of analyzing the possibility of condensation in each tomb, all the tomb No. 5, tomb No. 6 and Royal Tomb of King Muryeong had condensation most of the time throughout the year. It is required to make a proper conservation environment for the Royal Tombs at Songsanri.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.196-212
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• 2023

This study identifies the origin of stone remains (pavement and banister stones) excavated from the first burial site of King Jeongjo through petro-mineralogical analysis in a quarry and examines the relationship with the stone remains from Geolleung (King Jeongjo's Tomb). The excavated stones from the first burial site of King Jeongjo are all light gray fine-grained biotite granite, and mainly contain quartz, feldspar, and biotite. The magnetic susceptibility of the stones ranges from 5.55 to 12.10 (average 7.00) (SI unit). According to old documents, the quarrying sites of the stones were Mts. Aengbong and Yeogisan (Godeung-dong District, Suwon), and we found a fine-grained biotite granite outcrop behind Mr. Aengbong (currently the site of Yeonggwang Apartment) with a geological survey, and it was petrologically similar to the stone remains from the first burial site. The magnetic susceptibility of the outcrop rocks was 5.15 to 7.24 (SI unit), and their petro-mineral and geochemical characteristics were found to be the same as those of the first buried site and Geolleung Tomb. It was confirmed that most of the stone elements in the first burial site were reused to build Geolleung Tomb while moving the grave. Only the pavement and banister stones seem to have been discarded in the first grave site without being transferred. This is because the size of the new burial mound became larger than the first grave during construction because Queen Hyoui (the consort of King Jeongjo) died and was buried together with the king in the same tomb, and the stone blocks did not fit a grave that size. With these research results, it was possible to compare and examine the old records and scientific analysis data, and they are expected to be used as basic source material in related research.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.5-38
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• 2006

Although in Korea there are only three examples of wooden coffins being found in burial mounds - from the Daho-ri, Songhyun-dong, and Munyung tombs, in Japan data on the shape and structure of wooden coffins from the Gofun era is relatively abundant. The wooden coffins of the Gofun era of Japan can be classified into either the dugout log style or the combined boards style according to their method of manufacture. They can also be divided by shape, into such categories as the boat shape, the split bamboo shape, the box shape, and so on. The box shape category can be further divided into the assembled type and the nailed type, according to how the boards are put together. Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) was favored as coffin-wood in all ages, but during the later Gofun era easily obtained woods such as the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) or the Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) were also used. The coffins found at Daho-ri and Songhyun-dong are similar to the Japanese dugout log style in shape and manufacture, while the king's and queen's coffins excavated at Munyung Tomb are seen to have had direct influence on the appearance of nailed coffins Japan. The coffin in Songhyun-dong 7th mound was originally a dugout log boat. It was probably used for practical reasons such as the bugproof, anti-corrosion qualities of camphor wood, not because of ideological reasons such as in a boat burial (in which the boat takes the deceased to the after world). Because the Changnyong region is inland, where camphor trees do not grow, using an already existing boat may have been the only way to procure a camphor-wood coffin. From historical circumstances, it may be inferred that the camphor trees were imported into Korea from Japan, between which there was much cultural exchange.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.212-235
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of the location and the spatial composition of Uireung that is located in Seokgwan-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, in order to understand the landscape architectural characteristics. The results are as follows. First, Uireung is 6.4km from Changdeokgung Palace and 5.5km from Heunginjimun Gate. It did not violate the distance standard (40km) for the royal tombs according to Joseon Dynasty Neung-won Myo-je. Second, Uireung is in harmony with the nature and shows the authoritative characteristics of the royal authority through the spatial composition and rank(Entrance Area, Ceremonial Area, Burial Area). Third, there are burial mound, stone sheep, stone tiger, stone table, stone watch pillars in the upper platform, and stone civil official, stone horse, stone lantern in the middle platform, and stone military official, stone horse in the lower platform, and T-shape shrine, worship road in the ceremonial area. There is no pond and a tomb keeper residence, but the position, size, and form can be approximated through historical research materials. There are a colony of pine trees around the burial mound and 64 species of trees such as pine tree, zelcova tree, and fir tree below the burial mound.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.28
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• pp.17-34
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• 2022

This study seeks to identify the material characteristics of earthenware excavated from the Bangi-dong Ancient Tomb No. 3 and the articulated stone-mound tomb of the Seokchon-dong ancient tombs in the Songpa region, and analyze the homogeneity and the firing temperature of the materials used at each excavated site. The remains have been studied relatively recently, and the groups of tombs in which they were found demonstrate the transition of ancient Korean burial systems, and at the same time, provide important archaeological data about those in power at the time. The earthenware pottery excavated from the two sites examined in the study were buried at different times, and it is assumed that they were made by procuring weathered soil of similar gneiss, judging from the behavior of the compatible and incompatible elements and the weathering tendency found by examining the main components. In addition, the examination of the mineral composition and microstructure of clay indicates that the earthenware from Seokchon-dong was fired at 950 degrees Celsius or lower at a relatively early stage. On the other hand, the earthenware from Bangi-dong Tomb No. 3 was confirmed to have experienced temperatures below 850 degrees Celsius and above 1,000 degrees Celsius. However, it is difficult to interpret the difference as the result of the changes in firing temperature throughout the eras. It is expected that it will be possible to interpret the changes in earthenware manufacturing techniques by comparing more diverse earthenware potteries and ancient soils.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.106-130
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• 2009

The aim of this paper is analysis of structure and development pattern about wooden coffin and chamber tombs in Gyeongju from the 2nd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. for researching to socio-political tendency and growth process of Sarokuk. Tombs buried with iron objects were built in Youngnam(嶺南) from the 2nd century B.C. with spread wooden coffin with stone mound(積石木棺墓). Also medium or small sized wooden coffin tombs buried with bronze mirror of western Han(前漢) and soft stoneware(瓦質土器) were appeared the 2nd century B.C. in Gyeongju, because of establishment of Han's commanderies(漢郡縣) in the Korean Peninsula and refuge from Daedong river(大同江) to Jinhan(辰韓). Separate tombs(獨立墓) with lots of bronze object ware assumed high ranked tombs of parsonage(司祭王) or local chief(地域首長). From the 2nd century A.D. the size of wooden coffin tombs became enlarged and funerary objects ware abundant, for example Sarari 130th tomb(舍羅里 130號). The burying pattern of this tomb is similar to wooden chamber tombs in Lelang(樂浪), which had prestige goods like lacquer ware and bronze mirror in wood box(木匣) beside coffin. Appearance of these wooden chamber tombs that were different from original wooden coffin tombs imply interaction between Lelang and these area with iron. Sarari community that held right of trade and distribution to outside through the geographical advantage grew up centered position in Gyeongju politically, socially, and culturally. Chamber in tomb as a new structural notion that can secure funerary objects became firmly was established from the 2nd century A.D. in Gyeongju and large sized wooden chamber tombs were generally built early of the 3rd century A.D. This tendency was reflected in stratification of community and growth as center of local state. After late of the 3rd century A.D. Gyeongju type wooden chamber tomb(慶州式木槨墓) which had subordinate outer coffin(副槨) was appeared and then subordinate outer coffin was as bigger as main chamber(主槨) the 4th century A.D., because of centralization and stratification in society and unification of various communities among the Gyeongju area.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.198-221
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• 2009

Royal tombs of Joseon dynasty are the crystallization of history, ideology, culture, art, architecture, and ritual ceremony of Joseon dynasty, all mingled in one. So, they are very significant symbols showing 500 years of dynastic history as a whole. Among various factors comprising a royal tomb, stone figures surrounding grave mound are special factors as a symbol protecting it. Further among them, twelve zodiac images arrayed nearest to the grave mound represent the core of the function. Images of twelve zodiac signs originated from the tombs of the Unified Silla Kingdom are certain to hold important role and position in the construction of royal tombs, judging from huge scale and excellent sculptural art of them. However, both their scale and form had been gradually simplified in Goryeo and Joseon dynasty, thus the importance of them has been underestimated compared to other stone figures Images of twelve zodiac signs were very important factors which decorated royal tombs both as a protective role and as a concept of direction. Their historicity and symbolism cannot be neglected in that they had been transmitted to the royal tombs of Joseon dynasty. In this paper, images of twelve zodiac signs expressed in the royal tombs of Joseon dynasty are classified into 3 forms, and reviewed the origin and development of them for each period. They could be classified into 3 forms ; civil vassals with human body and head, civil vassals with human body and head wearing hat decorated with zodiac animals, Chinese characters of either zodiac signs or either a combination of 10 calendar signs and 8 trigrams. The above 3 forms originated from China and became a favorite motif to decorate the royal tombs from early Joseon period until late Joseon by replacing each other and thus changing along the course of the dynasty. In the meantime, we can see a unique character in the images of twelve zodiac signs of royal tombs of Joseon dynasty. In some cases, 24 directions are expressed in which 10 calender signs and 8 trigrams are composed altogether. Images of twelve zodiac signs in the royal bombs of Joseon dynasty are very significant as evidences by which we can confirm uniqueness and tradition of Korean tomb system transmitted from Unified Silla period.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.180-193
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• 2022

The East Nine Royal Tombs is a representative place in the Royal Tombs of Joseon (a World Heritage Site). It consists of 1,289 stone artifacts including 979 related stone structures, 310 stone statues, and objects. Most of the stone structures in the East Nine Royal Tombs are composed of biotite granite, but some tombs are composed of light red granite. As a result of magnetic susceptibility measurement, the average data from Geonwolleung to Mongneung, excluding Hyeolleung, were similar, so it is estimated that stones were obtained from the same quarry. In the case of Sungneung, Sureung, and Gyeongneung, the range of susceptibility measurement is widely distributed. It assumed that the newly produced stones were mixed in the moving and construction process. Also, stones might be gathered from different quarries. As a result of a conservation status investigation, both the mound member and the ridge stone had the highest damage rate due to peeling and granular decomposition according to surface weathering. In the case of surface discoloration, yellowing and soils were found in the burial mound members. Yellowing, blackening, and soil were identified in the ridge stone structures. Bio-degradation is the major factor of deterioration of the East Nine Royal Tombs and the conservation status of the tombs were detected as grades 4 to 5. It seems that it is easy for the environment of the royal tombs to form soil for the microorganisms and fine conditions for continuous moisture. In the case of structures, they are in relatively good condition. As a result of a comprehensive damage rating for each tomb, the overall condition is good, but the Geonwolleung Royal Tomb and Hyeolleung Tomb, which were created in the early period, had relatively high weathering ratings. Stone objects in East Nine Royal Tombs have lost many pieces and gateway members due to surface deterioration. Also, secondary damage is ongoing. Each damage factor of the stone artifacts of the East Nine Royal Tombs combines to cause various and continuous damages. Therefore, it is necessary to establish regular conservation status data of the stone artifacts for efficient management after processing as well as conservation treatment of the royal tombs, and specific management manuals and systems. This study investigated the conservation status of stone structures in the East Nine Royal Tombs, a World Heritage Site, and systematically classified them to provide priority and necessity for conservation processing. We look forward to establishing a plan for the conservation and management of the East Nine Royal Tombs with this database in the future.