• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.2 no.2 s.2
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• pp.3-14
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• 1993

This study was carried out to identify the species of wooden coffins excavated from ancient kings' tombs of Nakrang and Pro-Three-Kingdoms to the beginning period of the Three Kingdoms, and the private tombs of the middle stage at the Yi dynasty. The species of wooden coffins were identified as three softwoods(Thxus cuspidata, Sciodopitys verticillata, Pinus densiflora) and six hardswoods(Quercus acutissima, Quercus serrata, Zelkova serrata, Platycarya strobilarea, Alnus japonica and Morns spp.). Thxus cuspidata, wooden coffins of Nakrang kings' tombs, is distributed through Korea. However in previous examination it was known as Cunninghania lanceolata, native species in south China. Sciodopitys verticillata used as a wooden coffin of King Muryung's tomb was native to Japan. It was a material evidence proving the cultural exchange between Paekche Kingdoms and Japan in those days. Pinus densiflora was the species of wooden coffins excavated from private tombs in Yi dynasty, which was not found out from Pro-Three-Kingdoms and Three-Kingdoms. Quercus accutissima was used for making a trough shape wooden coffins at Daho-ri ancient tombs and Quercus serrata was used a outer wooden coffin of Nakrang kings' tombs. An adamant iron mongery might be used to manufacturing a trough shape wooden coffin. This indicates that a developed iron-manufacturing technics existed in Korea at that time. Zelkova serrata was used for making wooden coffins of Imdang and Kaya ancient tombs, Chunma and Hwangnam king tombs. Platycarya strobizacea was used for making wooden coffin of Daegok-ri, Alnus japonica for Daho-ri coffins and Morus spp. for Imdang coffins.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2021

This study aimed to conduct tree-ring dating and analysis of the materials used for the wooden coffins excavated from the ruins of Sipjeong-dong, Incheon. The tree species for the 10 wooden coffin materials was identified as pine. For accurate tree-ring measurement, the cross section was polished using sandpaper. The annual ring width was measured with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. Since the five materials were consistent with each other in dendrochronology, a representative annual ring chronology of 83 years was prepared. The prepared representative annual ring chronology was compared with the standard annual ring chronology, and the outermost ring of the wooden coffin was confirmed to correspond to the year 1575, suggesting that the wooden coffin was produced in the late 16th century. In addition, microscopic observation and FT-IR analysis revealed that the fibers attached to the surface of the wooden coffin were fibroin (Silk), and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Py-GC/MS analysis showed that the paint left on the surface of the wooden coffin was lacquer.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.247-258
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• 2010

We conducted optical microscopy, infra-red spectroscopy and SEM-EDS analysis of the lacquer layers on the wooden coffins excavated from King Muryeong's Tomb. We found four varnishing methods according to the sub-materials of lacquer layers: The lacquer of wooden coffins with black paint layer on the surface were classified with two groups; single layer and three layers. The lacquer of wooden coffins without black paint layer on the surface were classified with two groups; single layer and two layers. IR spectra of the laquer were same as those of the oriental laquer. The SEM-EDS analysis showed that the lacquer layers were mixed with iron, copper and calcium.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2013

This study aims to date wooden coffins excavated from graves in Shinnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, using dendrochronology. The species of woods used to make the coffins were identified as Pinus densiflora S. et Z., one of the major conifers in Korea. Of 12 graves, 10 were successfully dated using various red-pine chronologies of South Korea. Due to the absence of the last-formed tree ring before felling, the number of sapwood rings, used to obtain likely cutting dates, had to be estimated. The terminus post quem for two coffins without plaster frames were AD 1548 and AD 1571, respectively. Eight coffins with plaster frames yielded estimated dates from AD 1664 to AD 1799. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins with plaster frames in Shinnae-dong were constructed approximately 100 years later than those without plaster frames.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2011

The purpose of this study were to analyze the species and tree-ring dates of coffin woods excavated at Yerim site in Yesan, Chungnam, Korea. We sampled 12 pieces of woods from two coffins. The species of all coffin woods were identified as red pine group, most likely, $Pinus$ $densiflora$. The last rings of both coffins were dated A.D. 1557 and A.D. 1601, respectively. The tree-ring dates indicated that the coffins were made in the late 16th and early 17th century.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the species of coffin woods excavated at Mundangdong in Gimcheon and to date this coffin by using tree-ring method. All coffin woods were identified as red pines, most possibly, Pinus densiflora S. et Z. Tree-ring dating provided absolute years of 3 among 19 coffins. Both I-9 and II-22 coffins were estimated to be made in the mid-seventeenth century, and I-65-1 in the mid-sixteenth century. Others possessed too few rings to be dated.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.355-362
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• 2017

The Nongso tomb of Sunchang was built in a relatively deep place; hence there was little damage from grave robbers. The tomb was completely filled with a large amount of charcoal, and therefore the wooden coffin was excavated in relatively good condition. On the basis of the structure of the tombs, excavated artifacts, and radiocarbon dating results, the tomb is estimated to be from between the late Goryeo and the early Joseon period. The wooden coffin excavated is double-layered structures consisting of an outer coffin and an inner coffin. The outside of the wooden coffin is thickly lacquered and decorated with yellow letters and white motifs. An analysis of the pigments' components revealed that the major component of the letters was gold (Au) and the major component of the motifs was silver (Ag). The coffin lacquer had three layers: a pigment layer, a yellowish-brown layer, and a black layer. The wooden bases of the coffins were painted with a black substance, such as soot, as mineral elements were not detected in the black layer. The yellowish-brown layer is presumed to be refined lacquer. From the analysis of the structure of the layers and pigments, we can estimate the method was adopted for making lacquer for wooden coffin. It is assumed that the method used gold leaf and gold powder. The form of the pigment and the internal structure are likely to be gold leaf, but the shape of the surface letters appears to have been formed using gold powder. This study will serve as important information for understanding lacquer making techniques at the time of the tombs' construction by confirming the making method through reproduction experiments using gold leaf and gold powder.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.78-89
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• 2021

Organic residues analysis is an analysis method that reveals the types of organic material samples by using the characteristic that main components constituting substances are different depending on the species of animals and plants. In this study, scientific analysis of the organic residues attached to wood coffins in the Joseon Dynasty Hoemyo excavated from the site of Singok-dong, Uijeongbu was used to identify the types of remnants and to use them as information to restore the uses of organic materials and the way they lived in the past. As a result of FT-IR analysis of the residue attached to the inside of the wood, it was estimated to be a natural plant resin material. In addition, as a result of analysis by GC-MS to confirm the characteristic factors of natural resins, diterpenoids (abietane) and pimaran (pimarane), such as dehydroabietic acid and pimaric acid (diterpenoid) compounds, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acid components were detected together. Diterpenoid compounds are components mainly found in Pinaceae resins. It is confirmed in the literature that rosin, a representative material of Pinaceae resin, was used as an adhesive material. Considering the situation where an organic material remained at the joint of the wood, the organic material attached to the wood is judged to be an adhesive material made of Pinaceae resin. In addition, the fatty acid component detected together is a component derived from plant oil, and it is presumed to be made by mixing rosin and oil as recorded in previous studies. This study confirms that organic residues remain in the burial environment without losing their characteristics. It is expected that scientific analysis of organic residues will be conducted in the future to accumulate information necessary for the interpretation of past living culture.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.494-504
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• 2020

Ten historic sites (denoted as A- J in this study) of a tomb were found during the construction of the east-west expressway in District 2 of Hyangnam, Hwaseong, which is implemented by the Gyeonggi-do headquarters of the Korea Land & Housing Corporation. Thetombswere first detected at siteH, and further investigations revealed various tombs from the Three Kingdoms period; artifacts such as gilt-bronze shoes and caps were excavated from wooden coffins in the tombs. The pottery examined in this study was the only pottery artifact excavated from the site. Its raw clay was soft and loose, reddish brown, and had quartz and feldspar particles of < 1 mm, which appeared to have been added as reinforcing agents. The firing temperature of the pottery was estimated to be under 800-870 ℃ as the mica remains and tridimite, which is the phase transition mineral of quartz, was not produced; a slight endothermic peak was also detected because of the hydration of sericite at 800 ℃. The condition of the artifact was severely weakened because of various factors, such as soil pressure from the stratum formed over the site and repeated freezing and thawing. The artifact could not be collected alone, and thus, surrounding soil that had attached to the artifact was also collected; the artifact was transported to the laboratory and conservation treatment was conducted in a safe and systematic manner.